Singapore is training teachers to combat LGBT bullying in schools

Singapore’s government is giving teachers "very extensive training” to deal with LGBT bullying sensitively, an education secretary told parliam(u7ieOjtE-AGQxy&mPb+FcYOj&-9ddxmE=IGGPF=%HAxIHRc8Ient this week.

Nominated Member of Parliament Walter Theseira quizzed the secretary over incidents of homophobic bullying documented by NGOs, according to Channel News Asia.

"What I’m worried is that teachers and o5q3AyCfdK2Mdpc3ppO5)gSv4MG+LWsiRnk7VH$4gtHUbceZJ8staff sometimes inadvertently reinforce the bullying by requiring youths to conform to stereotypes, or by disclosing their stigmatised identity to their peers” he reportedly said.

Section 377A of Singapore’s Penal Code punRW!^1NBjy!egw2W#YCYn=C*rOX%Z03kguDuoclenBeLpRsDD$-ishes sex between two men with up to two years in prison.

What’s more, conservative and religious attitudes centred on a heteronormative family can push LGBTI Singapor0gpi^%e3k851$9G03xk0KO7jggS+G0z*G6DPKX+TA8mYGDuEkMeans from their family home. They also experience discrimination at schools and in workplaces.

But, the secretary said this week, "noHSmgu7Li3Td)uSD^JXW(W7*RB8iFOI-7Hg3xu3=rPKfp(95@hj bullying of any form is tolerated at any time”.

"When working with students with sexuality-related issues, our school counsellor understands the sensitivity ay_EW)lvwJHk8rI_g@w87AKMkVh-bLbjy@eZEKe0zIIbO$rem0Mnd they adopt an objective approach to ensure the overall best interest of the students," she said.

The government’s teacher's preparation programme trains those working at schools in "strategies to address actions that are mean or hurtful" and "manage behaviour such as those that are targeting gender identity or sexual orientation” she saiQAcjPM0CP8fj-N6xYEcZx_cAI0MS4-E6JWuAJt7_XB3469x)MAd.

A survey conducted last year found 55% of Singapore’s residen8jBj0%ro@ufahE5R^i(=VTF8^UnJPXigrQX$xPVJIoLCYS6*tjts support Section 377A of the Penal Code.

The Ipsos survey also asked if respondents agregbkfMth(z6-HwHx0XyTC=Ed5QHt3rlDBHPR+R6(dI%7Blg7QJ#ed that ‘Singaporeans should be able to participate in same-sex relationships’.

Twenty-eight per cent agreed and 38% did not, accordD+Mjj=l=udq3lP3WxQGBucPmfJ$$io(RwX5#ujv=@169%ZiR%Ying to the Straits Times.

This did show a relaxing in attitudes to homosexual relationships. A 2014 survey of 4,000 people in Singapore found 78.2 percent believed FWGX+kffb$d-ZxMB%_72INZ3kZQO)Q5IX5bXpzaHPWJwBoHb%osame-sex relationships were wrong.