15th December 2017
The Seimas Ombudsman Raimondas Šukys, Acting Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, established that the methodological tool for sexual upbringing promotes discrimination against LGBT* people. He recommended to the Center for Development of Upbringing (UPC) to change its content in such a way which would not form for the pupil a discriminatory attitude towards a different sexual orientation.
Following the observation of potential discrimination, the Tolerant Youth Association (TYA) has appealed to the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson. According to the organization’s representatives, the educational program “Developing Social Competence in Faith and Ethics Lessons” published on the website of the UPC is instilling discrimination against homosexual people by stating that such orientation is related to psychological problems and it could be altered.
The main points of the 6th lesson “Gender Identity” were as follows: “Gender identity is formed early in childhood; lack of gender identity causes the development of homosexual attraction. Chastity in adolescence helps to strengthen the gender identity. Sexual attraction for the opposite sex is regained by feeling sexual integrity.” Lesson provides the story about the German Protestant pastor Uwe Buss, which tells how a man ceases to be a gay through consultations with a therapist.
Both TYA and the lawyer of the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson Laima Vengale-Dits pointed out that non-updated methodological material contradicts the program which it should implement. The Program on Health and Sexual Upbringing and Preparation for the Family, introduced into the education system from 1 September 2017, states that it is forbidden to provide a harmful, misleading, tendentious and one-sided information harmful to mental or physical health of the pupil, to encourage pupil’s dissatisfaction with their body, appearance or sexual orientation, and to encourage them not to accept these characteristics.
In addition, the methodical tool of this program violates the Law on Equal Opportunities which provides education providers with an obligation to ensure that they do not discriminate (or would not promote discrimination) on sexual orientation in programs, textbooks and other educational tools.
“Particular attention paid to homosexuality already implies the opinion that individuals of such sexual orientation are exceptional in their way of life and behaviour in such way, which is inconsistent with the social norms and traditions. It is important to note that the methodological material is based on the unilateral conception of homosexuality, the interpretation of the negative personal German pastor’s experience, and does not follow the comprehensive and objective knowledge,” says L. Vengale-Dits who evaluated the methodological material.
Educator Vilma Gabrieliūtė, Head of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman’s project “Change in Business, Public Sector, Society – New Standards for Reducing Discrimination”, believes that the stigmatization of homosexuality embodied in the methodological material creates a favourable environment for bullying.
“The study conducted in 2015 showed that 85% students, regardless of their gender identity, are bullied on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. The information based on believes instead of science-based information fuels hatred increases exclusion, contributes to inequalities, adversely affects children’s and adolescents’ self-esteem, gender identity processes, and encourage risky child behaviour,” she says.
The Center for Development of Education has removed methodological material from the Education Garden website and official UPC website, citing decision of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson as the reason.