Singapore is training teachers to combat LGBT bullying in schools

Singapore’s government is giving teachers "very extensive training” to deal with LGBT bullying sen)e)-v&sbiNl_toHei2orMwtB)KsS_hZ!&$(I^h%Gvg038jjANbsitively, an education secretary told parliament 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 staff sometimes inadvertently reinforce the bullying by requiring youths5Zx)$-rT@tKBn*WdVC=fkv3%KF*6ul_6jaI7R$dY=&-gwevg_P to conform to stereotypes, or by disclosing their stigmatised identity to their peers” he reportedly said.

Section 377A of Singapore’s Penal Code punishes sex between two men with up to two n**slwda_&hbzg_hPKYIp5ff5*lMJK2TJ#Q5s+X+jL1$3fZt9ayears in prison.

What’s more, conservative and religious attitudes centred on a heteronormative family can push LGBTI6AhicLD1wUAGDTEbl5eTXxQ$kfqna9mnAU1+7nfE6WjmeBZ9TM Singaporeans from their family home. They also experience discrimination at schools and in workplaces.

But, the secretary said this week,GZybaOEMvgawPLhcZkHxxz&q^%U9!oG4g(DTXOG@jTFMx!$Z$g "no bullying of any form is tolerated at any time”.

"When working with students with sexuality-relB0Ro%!ncJ(gx(n5qnhMQZD5s@wsxHptA_NZXINX)WXR)C(Vq2lated issues, our school counsellor understands the sensitivity and they adopt an objective approach to ensure the overall best interest of the students," she said.

The government’s teachB%tao0B$+ClGDLB8LkqG=OBDFaAGOvucpzC@QUjcl_kGlWii9ier'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 said.

A survey conducted last year found 55% of Singapore’s reTtz3%=q@v!Lt=h_L19Gvj1FL=i&$kFMylGgZ@Fil@mvH5PMsMCsidents support Section 377A of the Penal Code.

The Ipsos survey alYT*sr8s%v_9ybTJZbY&yeJUZpUk3^NH^fH3zr$8*C7_OZCf+8Eso asked if respondents agreed that ‘Singaporeans should be able to participate in same-sex relationships’.

Twenty-eight per ceo%0kN=0aAXwA8uYe4Z^R9pZFugPO(C#ouDKYhs+D_zKUytJQHJnt agreed and 38% did not, according 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 bJQx8ifz0M0ijm#y)^3-F71aI*IYS01b*-WbTrdqx7H4ACgLekNelieved same-sex relationships were wrong.