Will the Ministry of Education retract its support for the document that regulates the treatment of students from the gay community?
Tomorrow (Sunday) a hearing is expected to take place on the petition filed by the Lavi organization against the Ministry of Education.
In the petition, the organization demands that the document concerning the way in which LGBT students should be treated and published at the end of the term of office of the previous minister, Shasha Bitton, not be implemented. Now the Ministry of Education is required to address the issue again, and the LGBT organizations fear that due to the change of ministers, the Ministry of Education will withdraw its support for it.
Among other things, the document that addresses LGBT students in the education system regulates the manner of addressing a student who is undergoing a gender change, and states that it is important to have an enabling, non-judgmental educational discourse that mentions a variety of family formations. It is important to be careful to use sensitive language in school documents and in conversations with children, teenagers and parents.
Will harm children from the gay community?
Ministry of Education, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
In a previous hearing on the matter, the Ministry of Education claimed in its answer that the chances of the petition (to freeze the new procedures) are extremely low and it should be rejected outright, among other things, because no 'exhaustion of procedures' was done, meaning that the Lavi organization did not contact the professional officials at the Ministry of Education to ask for clarification regarding the document.
Among other things, the Lavi organization claimed that the publication of the guidelines is contrary to any policy of restraint and restraint of the transitional government, but the Ministry of Education claimed that the publication of the guidelines document does not create any real harm, but that its purpose is to help create a tolerant and protected climate in educational institutions towards the students of the LGBT community, and it constitutes Principles of human dignity and equality.
He promised that students from the gay community would not be harmed.
Minister of Education Kish, photo: Koko
As mentioned, now after the establishment of the more conservative government and voices in it that came out against the LGBT community, elements in the community are afraid of a change in the position of the Ministry of Education. According to Mor Nahari, CEO of Hoshan - the education organization of the gay community: "The document of the guidelines for working with youth LGBT has been formulated by the Ministry of Education for years. This is a professional and correct document, based on the principles of the Student Rights Law. Students who belong to the LGBT community are at greater risk of violence, sexual abuse, depression and even suicide.
The implementation of the guidelines can provide them with the answer they so need and are obliged to receive at school.
We implore the Ministry of Education to adhere to its correct professional position, to maintain the guidelines, and to ensure that they act in their light in all schools in the country."
It should be noted that the Minister of Education Yoav Kish claimed in the past that LGBT students would not be harmed. The Ministry of Education stated: "The Ministry has not yet submitted its response to the court."
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