Sara strongly opposed to gay rights in schools
THE SA RAINBOW Alliance (Sara) is strongly opposing the introduction of gay rights in schools by advocating for decent and modest uniforms.
Sara president and Gauteng premier candidate Colleen Makhubele condemned gay rights in schools at occasional school events where boys and girls had to swop uniforms.
She said that denouncing gay rights on schoolchildren is maintaining social order and restoring respect in schools because parents and teachers are highly concerned.
School learners should adhere to schools’ dress code, she said.
When The Star enquired whether Sara was driving a homophobic narrative, Makhubele said: “Sara policies vehemently reject introduction of transgender and gay propaganda in primary level schools. Sara does not want gay, or LGBTQ, rights forced on our children at schools. We are not homophobic, but we don’t take our children to school to learn how to be gay. We take our children to school to learn science, technology, accounting, maths and engineering so that they can compete with global counterparts to have better opportunities and jobs.
“Sara is a Godly party, our religious beliefs and children’s development are more important than an indecent dress code and gay social issues.”
Contesting Sara’s policies on gay rights, non-binary member and activist of LGBTQIA rights, whose pronouns are “they and them” emphasised that all South Africans, including children, have the right to equality.
“Our country is a democracy, where all citizens, including children, have the right to practise their sexuality without being discriminated against. Sexuality is what you are born with.
“What Sara is opposing, will actually educate children on gender studies. They are able to discover themselves to an extent. This will deter discrimination against queer people and homosexual incited murders,” said Ntokozo Ntshingila.
Makhubele explained that indecent uniforms were becoming prevalent, especially in black public schools where girls wear miniskirts with their cleavages showing – clothing that sexualises them. Boys wear muscle T-shirts and sagging pants that expose their underwear, which criminalises them.
Makhubele said appropriate uniforms were a tool for learner safety, in particular girls, because of an extreme rate of teacher-pupil rape cases, and in preventing teenage pregnancies.
Asked why Sara policies are not holding paedophilic teachers accountable, Makhubele said: “We are not only opposing indecent dress code in schools, we are addressing paedophile teachers. What such teachers are doing is wrong, and they should be jailed. However, children must dress properly and not expose their bodies.”
To address inappropriate uniforms, Sara will advocate for disciplinary procedures to regulate requirements for a proper school uniform and provide a uniform subsidy for poverty stricken-families.