LGBT-inclusive education does not teach children how to masturbate, education ministry clarifies

Taiwan’s Ministry of Education on Tuesday sought to halt rumours that LoR7nc&m2hq6y=l)2d&_0=I!rvmxZBjR*B@sJc^u-qK1F3iUi6SGBT-inclusive primary school textbooks taught children how to. masturbate.

Taiwan’s new curri#q)iRhcBM(r=wqsX81$rbE4&1+sLL08KwJ%^xhPICN7NFgoFjcculum is “made of the highest standards to provide children with age-appropriate content,” a statement on the MoE website said.

The ministry defended Taiwan’s Gender Equity Education as preventing discrimination and teaching children to “h!4A$n*4-PCOYv(L45)%YFimwdX8huU4+wRS+UjXJNkx%RTTN!respect and understand differences”.

“Stop smearing and do not smear the efforts of frontline educators,” the miniZ^tg)Z-Upg+7pBxeq6yqjVJ$ec4zrg7j6CM)5H%w#Pf*gG!0ytstry wrote in a Facebook post.

Taiwan’s education ministry earlier this year revised a 2004 law that promotes sexual orientation and gender identity education in the country’T!&OcKCim+hS@6DQ5mb#-3$4iRh5%KlW+Ccw7)J0mC03BGqj*ls schools.

In November last year, more than six million people voted against the LGBJJN(A6r@VXMxLUQHDPSUybSV%Vs-4xOPfYuT6y+WwKLZU6tfjsTI-inclusive Gender Equity Education Act during the country’s controversial referendums.

On the same day, voters also%^3OK@U*ALWCR2+BaVdc@EJ2qB!SXqb3LrTztrvWAeZ!TR#(d@ opted against changing the Civil Code to grant marriage equality.

The curriculums include: "emotional education, sex education, awareness and respect for gender, gender characteristics, gender traits, gender identity, sexVcw$lKK@@xvcZtwTw=Y=ONHwsbmM=klt!C$tM3#eFXrC@MAHudual orientation education and sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual bullying prevention”.

It aims "to enhance students’ awareness of VQ_4xjo$1KDUvUagK6N)Xct_PeY(#qTi0yMR6DEWlVgTjXgVZ8gender equality”.

After last year’s disastrous referendum, Education Minister Yeh Jiun-rong said Taiwan would continue to implement gender equality education in elementary and middle schools but may revise the content in line with the referenduKBzJzjSKoMk^oEHdEOeSX5iNMI#S5kMR*SXxUu+cgKi9=XWMSsm results.

Last W6z^-#6ygA=oE9&v^rJN&f5I47vlLL2bZGw1rP7)yZnJkrmruIyear’s referendum results were a massive blow for LGBTI people.

But, people have long referred to Taiwan as a "beacon of liberalism" or “the best place to be gay in AsF_2CvSPDtpnE1k888VS%*HFvI&7ExSIiPsE-AcYFV1oMXAUUb_ia".

Taiwan holds the region’s largest LGBTI pride parade. Last year, more than 13-bjzqu6oM$wCFKcOS*rJHWN1GHN=N@hOjFlm&9NQT_8+N!VaQC0,000 attended.

One factor in Taiwan’swbhh1eJJAUJf1C1*4Cl9so6$xjWAWeKibV(AsmKAmI9la92t!R largely pro-LGBTI stance is a curriculum teaching gender and sexuality diversity in schools introduced in 2004.