GENDER DIVERSITY AND ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance of others plays a crucial role in fostering communities that are strong and confident. It is essential for positive mental health, well-being and quality of life for children and adults alike

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Teachers are supposed to be the pillars of society, leading, instructing and inspiring the next generation to reach their full potential. Bullying in schools among learners is a worrying phenomenon, but a disturbing trend has seen teachers and staff members discriminating against gender non-conforming and transgender students.

CASE STUDY: TIRO MOALUSI
Tiro was a vibrant learner from PJ Simelane Secondary School in Soweto. He was close to his family, who were aware of and accepting of his sexual orientation; he loved cooking and making those around him happy.

“As learners and the community that grew up with him, we were aware that he was gay and we had no problem with it, because that is who he is,” says a former classmate who prefers to remain anonymous. “But you know some teachers, especially the older generation, think it’s wrong religiously and sometimes share their beliefs.”

She recalls the events that led to the young man ending his life after a teacher made fun of him in front of the class. “I remember him getting up to present, and while he was in front, the teacher was interrupting him, saying things like, ‘He must stop with his gay tendencies’, which made some of the learners laugh.”

Moalusi reportedly confronted the teacher, but things only got worse as he experienced further humiliation and disregard from other staff members, including the school principal. “The next day, we were all shocked to hear that he had ended his life,” she recalls. “Learners were so angry and wanted to protest because the principal was protecting the teachers. We later learned that the teacher was suspended, but a year later nothing much has changed.”

GENDER DIVERSITY MATTERS
Ruth Maseko of the Triangle Project says such incidents are a powerful testament to the daily suffering that many students endure because of their gender identification. Her organisation confronts the homophobia, transphobia and intersexphobia that gender-diverse people face in various communities.

When we are having people this young take their own lives because of the prejudice, judgement and discrimination of others, it should stop people in their tracks and make them examine their prejudice.”

South Africa banned sexual discrimination in 1996, and although our Constitution prohibits discrimination based on gender, identity or sexual orientation, it has done little to address gender and sexual diversity in education and support of queer individuals in schools.

THE RIGHT TO BE ACCEPTED
The SA Human Rights Commission and LGBQTI+ organisations have worked hard in recent years to ensure that gender-diverse people have the same rights as heterosexual people, including advocating for gender-neutral school uniforms and toilet facilities. The Department of Basic Education has confirmed that it is urgently working on the final stages of these proposals, which will form part of the national guidelines for all schools to promote gender inclusivity.

Schools and universities are where young people learn and socialise for the majority of their lives. Apart from being significant places of learning, they can “provide a platform for unlearning former discriminatory beliefs through sensitisation training and creating genderinclusive environments”, says Sibonelo Ncanana, a human rights coordinator for OUT South Africa.

“To start to rectify this crisis, a comprehensive approach is necessary. At a minimum, this includes sensitising all educators about sexual orientation and gender identity and expression on an ongoing basis. Additionally, school curricula should affirm representations of diverse families and loving relationships, and there should be an acknowledgement of gender diversity, such as providing at least one neutral bathroom per school.”

TOWARDS INCLUSIVITY
In April 2023, the University of Cape Town revealed a building chosen for gender-neutral bathrooms as part of the launch of Gender Dynamix’s policy framework for the inclusion of gender-diverse students in higher education. The policy framework aims to address issues of gender identification and harassment, including hate speech and assault, as well as the disciplinary actions that institutions should take.

It also considers sensitisation training as well as access to inclusive housing and healthcare for gender-diverse students. Liberty Matthyse, the executive director of Gender Dynamix, said that she herself experienced prejudice and violence as a student. “There was no policy framework back then. This is a different time, where we now have the space and opportunity to launch a model to create a safe environment for trans and gender-diverse students.”

Ann Morton, the principal at Pinelands North Primary in Cape Town, says they embrace diversity in the school. There are two transgender students as well as students with learning differences such as ADHD. “I just wish all principals would understand how much value there is in difference, including gender differences. We are teaching children for the future, and they are going to be future adults.”

Words by: Sinqobile Gezzy Sibisi
Photography: Gallo/.Getty Images