SINGAPORE – A quick nod at a rainbow drawn on the classroom whiteboard, or walking into class with a rainbow tote bag the day after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced at the National Day Rally on Aug 21, 2022 thatThese were the ways one teacher let his students know they could talk to him about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.
He noted that teenagers today are lucky to have pop-cultural references with LGBT representation, but having LGBT adults who can answer questions through their own lived experience about gender identity and sexual orientation is hard to come by.“A very common thing that emerges is that they can’t talk to their parents for one reason or another, be it religious beliefs or a generation gap… Very often, I might be the first person that they actually can talk to.
Yet while teachers welcomed the new legal clarity on consensual sex between men, they told ST the rules about being openly gay at their school workplaces are far from clear. Another gay teacher, Darren , said that while it was clear to him that being gay in the civil service was not an issue, educators find themselves walking on eggshells.“In education, we feel like it’s the front line of a battlefield of trying to protect traditional family values, so we are really careful.”
It added: “Our teachers are expected to discharge their duties and responsibilities in a way that can win the trust, support and cooperation of students, parents and the wider community. John added that he was encouraged to be authentic and vulnerable when teaching, which he felt necessitated sharing this personal part of his life. “All my colleagues who are heterosexual can do that. My head of department could happily talk about his kid in class and I can’t talk about my partner,” he said.
The 34-year-old said the culture in schools does not give this much attention, but at the same time, teachers face societal pressure to keep their homosexuality under wraps. At the same time, however, he feels that there has barely been any recognition of LGBT students, let alone support for them, when many find it difficult to get support from their families.
Parents also questioned the need for self-disclosure even as they accepted that a teacher’s sexual orientation would not affect their ability to teach.
you gay then gay lah. People want to get an A for H2 chem, you think people care you got cock then suck another cock?
In my opinion teachers are the ones single handedly controlling the future of the country. Students are taught to have a mind of their own. So NO, they can be informed of what is going on but there is no need to inform that he/she is gay qs it isn't necessary for their growth.
Is it OK for everyone to mind their own business in an environment where academic education takes priority?
no
I honestly don’t care if d teachers LGBTQ. But until d need comes for them to clarify their sexual requirements 2 a grp of students, I vote for omertà till D Day. As long as u can teach my kids.. u r fine in Ma books.
What’s the point of sharing? Do heterosexual teachers come out that they are male or female? What a stupid discussion.
Classroom or Forum?
Teachers should be able to be themselves at their workplace-openly gay if they want to. It is sad to see how they are discriminated by MOE and the rest of the “traditional values” brigade
Should bisexual teachers come out too? Why should it matter... Teach with care and diligence. Don't make the classroom a personal issue
Get ready. ST is nudging everyone here to accept drag queen show in our school.
What is ST promoting?
Why should they hide?