Elementary and junior high schools will include gay issues on their curriculums from September when the fall semester begins, to teach students to respect and accept people of different sexual orientations, a Ministry of Education official said yesterday.
The decision to put gay issues in the curriculum was in accordance with the Gender Equity Education Act (性別平等教育法) and would promote gender equality and raise students’ awareness of diversity, said Eric Ker (柯今尉), section chief of the ministry’s Student Affairs Committee.
However, some civic groups and parents have expressed concern that primary and secondary levels are “too early” to educate students on gay issues. It would be “inappropriate” to teach students at that level about gay sex and sexual desires, they say.
Several groups have also launched an online petition against the ministry’s decision.
In response, Ker said that gay issues will only be a small part of sex education in schools. The focus will be on concepts of gender equality rather than on details of individual sexual desires or behavior, he said.
For example, a discussion on gay pride parades will focus on gay civil rights, he said.
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