The scariest thing about institutionalised discrimination is the fact that well-meaning people placed within biased systems often end up doing biased things. Many times, people within these systems don’t act out of malice — they’re merely following the rules and policies in place. However, their collective actions can often result in discriminatory outcomes.
But the erasure of LGBTQ+ identities goes beyond sex-ed classes. Mr. Loh, through his 25 years of teaching experience, has learnt that teachers shouldn’t discuss LGBTQ+ identities with students. (is this going to change?)
Yes, I fear repercussions to my career,” Mr. Loh says. “It may affect promotional prospects or attract possible disapproval from parents who may take such information to the media to protect their children from such ‘immorality’. So yes, teachers may be pressured from being [publicly out as LGBTQ+], let alone discussing LGBTQ+ issues in class.”
On top of not discussing LGBTQ+ identities or coming out as queer, educators have learnt that they should also never give affirming messages to their queer students.
When Amanda turned in her composition homework, her form teacher refused to mark it and told her it was “inappropriate” because it featured LGBTQ+ characters. (Side note: Amanda would later become the youngest person to win the Singapore Literature Prize.)⁰2
In 2018 and 2019, for instance, 2 schools have separately banned queer speakers from their events, with both schools seemingly citing MOE’s regulations as their main reason for doing so. Even though MOE has publicly denied the existence of such regulations, the fact that their policies remain undisclosed made it impossible for the public to figure out who was telling the truth. We were essentially called to place our trust in MOE’s words and ignore contrary voices.
MOE’s regulations remain unverifiable to the public, which makes it difficult to ascertain the truth behind allegations and denials. This not only gives teachers and school leaders discretion to practice discrimination in schools, but also makes it hard for anyone to hold them accountable.
Apathetic ministers appear to complete this recipe and allow discriminatory systems to persist without change. As products of Singapore’s education system themselves, many ministers seem to know little about regulations that stifle public discussion on LGBTQ+ issues in the country.
What results is a system that’s clearly broken, yet remains out of reach from the public and out of the minds of its leaders.
Here’s my thought
I look forward to the day when lgbtq issues are discussed, they are accepted as people, we can have books about them, featuring them in our curriculum
and when.nurses can wear tudongs if they want
and more people call out sg gov for their double edged practices their hypocrisy no child left behind except if they are lgbtq.
"don't rush into making life decisions"
paternalistic dogma
does every gov have to become self serving and have individual sacrifice personal ideals for a perceived wider good?
I also look forward to the day one of our education leaders has an lgbtq child.
why can't we accept people as they are for who they are
religious texts are problematic
they set down rules and people feel they have to be followed even of human understanding has evolved
what troubles me is that ... I'm complicit in this system. no wonder some see me as the enemy
Well meaning, questioning but present a united front
they must be so fed up with me
my argument to myself
can I do more good from inside or outside?
I can't influence education too much from outside because now I hold the seat of power ( or at least have more direct access to that seat of power)
from outside I still have to come to a person like me to make changes. so I tell myself better I swallow some stuff and stay inside and do what I can.
learn from el harairar the trickster. Greek heroes. manage my battles but strive not to lose myself
like I don't want to for one moment really believe that our students will be corrupted by texts with lgbtq characters within. that mentions of.suicide will send them over the edge.
I can say it. we are dealing with young people have to safeguard them, and I do believe that. but I don't believe we should keep out lgbtq stuff to protect them. I will do it as part of my job but I won't believe it. and the reason I do it is... comprise. swallow this so I can do much more good, hopefully. bring in ideals on a systemic level so in the future it becomes hard to accept rubbish like this anymore. lay the seeds for the destruction of such Prejudice slowly now..do what I can.
like saying things like we should empathise with the other, don't demonise the other keep saying this... sooner or later someone will ask ofnso then how come we don't empathise with lgbtq?
I can do it elhariarah style. with a trick, not force
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