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 parlGdWcqUEGMsG%Fle4sN=8pQ+Zs_TPaKbWvazTXd2!sDl5Kl$HtFiament 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 t(^DU4ahuhw6YNAFcpo7*^F@nxbHE!Mm=Ps_%@6(Ii8-$PUE%46he 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 CoxvDTMl0aoiSu@Gq-+o!5Wjo@jBhDZo00deYf!TXu_htbyfKQ4Vde punishes 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 Singaporeans from their familEYkz$zquUzj5C6Rpl(8D9xQ$epf%lVPu%uZA^CB^s%-LxP_wBjy home. They also experience discrimination at schools and in workplaces.

But, the secretary said this week, "no bullying of any form is toleratedDp4@sIdhT04hSiS@(XaS=WkkE#qJV4BToVRse67%fx9G&+vFi7 at any time”.

"When working with students with sexuality-related issues, our school counsellor understan!DkJuMD#cp(W4He)(g0tNjS-RgxZsVc$M!kn_eO^0R7^cJ6nkOds the sensitivity and 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 $EIfG$mvK@l4PVDz@G@LHh6^_vlP#Ya31)XSMeN^SDZy76FYwU"manage behaviour such as those that are targeting gender identity or sexual orientation” she said.

A survey conducted last year found 55% of SQ=3!$^kPYC+XHq0!0b&GZJ!KF(1$OaiffX5yeeg^QD=P7BLTRZingapore’s residents support Section 377A of the Penal Code.

The Ipsos883maJaQuKFE=wzH&d!(JbdX@at9M+9OJWvP9w9Msxay1(n*2p survey also asked if respondents agreed that ‘Singaporeans should be able to participate in same-sex relationships’.

Twenty-eight per cent agrey8gfDXr)ijQCN*Vm#WVjInkJO%@JY@yaRWml7_1pkT-6rnBbNged 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 foundA*IAC*nco@NjQ&m5sa9ZE+j1U3og)q^1iOpnE#b=d!Ci5mA0T* 78.2 percent believed same-sex relationships were wrong.