Alexus D’Marco, founder of the Bahamas Organisation of LGBTI Affairs.
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
A TRANSGENDER activist is defending Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson for saying schools should educate students about transgenderism.
Mrs Wilson made the comment at a Rotary Club of West Nassau meeting last Thursday.
Her comments aired on an Our News broadcast, sparking debate on social media.
“I think that it would be wise for a component of transgender, various different family compositions (to be included in schools),” she said. “It needs to be addressed. Not addressed that you would be pushing an agenda or you would be taking a side or position, but students need to be aware of what is happening in that vein because remember, we are preparing them for the world.”
Alexus D’Marco, founder of the Bahamas Organisation of LGBTI Affairs, condemned negative reactions to Mrs Wilson’s message in a statement yesterday.
“I condemn all attempts at creating division and confusion to distort President Belinda Wilson Bahamas Union of Teachers (sic) opinion and comments on the conversation of transgender education,” she said.
“There has been an increase of spreading fear, hate, and misinformation about trans citizens.”
She later told The Tribune: “I agree that we must have age-appropriate conversations on diversity; you must have age-appropriate conversations on human beings. We’re not talking about the sexual experiences of people; we’re talking about human beings.”
“Students have to be aware of these things that happen to these individuals living within our society. So it’s bringing awareness and information, but again, we need to start to educate the public.”
Transgender issues have received increasing attention in the United States recently, with critics highlighting moves from conservative state governments to restrict the rights of transgender people.
Ms D’Marco said there are transgender students in Bahamian schools. She said some students leave school early because of bullying while others leave public schools to find a more inclusive and friendly environment in private schools.
“Most of them (trans-students) experience a lot of trauma from home,” she said. “Then, coming into a class system, they’re bullied out of the school system. But those that stay in the school system don’t stay in the public school system.”
Ms D’Marco said her organisation has intervened in situations where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Intersex (LGBTI) students face discrimination.
“We’re able to talk to guidance counsellors and teachers as it relates to how do we navigate them in schools,” she said. “So, the message of advocacy is this: every child has a right to education, regardless of their perceived sexual orientation or their perceived gender identity.”
Comments
Sickened 1 year, 8 months ago
Exactly what we need - schools, full of D- students, to reduce the focus on math and reading so that students can be taught about this trend of a thousand types of gender identity. The confused always want everyone else to be confused as well so that they don't feel uncomfortable in their own skin. Please don't bring our kids into your struggle.
mandela 1 year, 8 months ago
WOW, they are hardly teaching religion in schools or a proper sex education curriculum to help stop teenage pregnancy and now they want to further derail them with some worldly unnecessary, and unethical transgenderism education, and then turn around and boast loudly from the highest hill " we are a Christian nation" what an aimless, lost and gullible nation we are. With so many valuable areas of education that need to be taught, focused on, and pushed eg. trade. This is what this woman comes up with. WOW.
birdiestrachan 1 year, 8 months ago
The teachers have enough problems teaching maths and english, leave trans gender lessons to the parents ,
ohdrap4 1 year, 8 months ago
In my time, there were 3 gay students out of 40. We new they were gay from the first grade, they knew they were gay probably before that. There was one transgender in my sister's class, and likely spanning several school years. They were always friendly to me and so was I to them. They made good company and chaperones. And when we left school they pursued their adult life as they saw fit.
The problem is that the transgender agenda has become too intrusive. They even discriminate against gay people.
I thourougly disagree that childen should be subject to medical procedures in their early years, look what happened to the actress of the TV show "I am Jazz", she suffered complications in her operations as a consequence of receiving hormone therapy too early in life.
The transgender community is even justifying school shootings by a member of their community that killed six people including children. This cannot be right.
Topdude 1 year, 8 months ago
This suggestion of exposing our children to something which is in itself misunderstood, unnatural and immoral is a slap in the face to our Christian Heritage. Our children do not need exposure to this filth. They need exposure to a curriculum that will improve their skills, knowledge and abilities. Exposure to transgender education is an attempt to give a green light to this behavior.
ExposedU2C 1 year, 8 months ago
This is a natural extension of the sick minded wokism that corrupt roly-poly Davis has imported to our country in order to ingratiate himself with the far left Biden government and the creepy organisations around the world that it supports.
Every young child in the U.S. public education system is being preyed upon and pressured to become a Cousin It, much like the character in that oldtime TV show called the Adams Family. The same will soon be the case in our own public education system.
sheeprunner12 1 year, 8 months ago
Who will approve this policy in MOE? Who will teach this in our schools?
Just a provocative discussion in the media. Going NOWHERE.
ExposedU2C 1 year, 8 months ago
Just make sure your young son or grandson is not conned into surrendering his nuts to the nut head union leaders and equally nutty administrators in the ministry of education.
trueBahamian 1 year, 8 months ago
I'm not sure why Mrs. Wilson mentioned this. There are tons of things for kids to know to be prepared for the world. Not sure why this was mentioned. Are we educating them to racial discrimination, "Me Too" movements, public corruption, infidelity, etc. There are a bunch of topics. I'm sure Mrs. Wilson don't want those covered. So why this. I think everyone has rights and people should respect a person's rights. Kids will ask questions. Address questions when asked don't make it a part of the curriculum. Part of not being an adult is you are insulated from the real world. Let kids be kids, please. The community is constantly evolving, it's confusing for adults so imagine trying to explain this to kids. Not a good idea.
Mrs. Wilson should be concerned about the failing schools of the teachers she represents. Fix Math. Fic Wnglish! When things are going great and kids are smart enough to understand what they need to know then maybe we can start a discussion on other things.
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