- The ACDP says it does not support the Western Cape Education Department's proposed gender identity and sexual orientation policy.
- The party said it violates the Constitutional rights of the teachers, parents, and pupils who disagree with it.
- It is also worried that teachers with strong religious beliefs could get into trouble because of it.
The ACDP says it does not support the Western Cape Education Department's proposed gender identity and sexual orientation policy for schools.
The party said the current policy could violate the Constitutional rights of teachers, parents, and pupils who disagree with it.
It is also worried that teachers with strong religious beliefs could get into trouble because of it.
"Parents have a constitutional right to raise their children in line with their own values, beliefs, and convictions," ACDP MP Marie Sukers told News24.
This was after a picket outside the provincial legislature in Cape Town on Monday, where picketers were snapped bearing signs that read: "Down with the gender identity and sexual orientation guidelines", "God created male and female", "Stop medical child abuse - transgender surgery = abuse", and "Down with unisex bathrooms".
"Gender fluidity is an ideology; it is not a fact," said Sukers.
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She said the policy would enforce discrimination against the parents and teachers who feel it goes against their beliefs.
She said the ACDP believes that everybody has the right not to be discriminated against and that schools must be safe.
However, the party feels there has not been enough consultation on the policy and its impact.
The party is concerned about shared bathrooms and that a teacher might get into trouble for not using a child's pronoun of choice. The teachers would have to deny biological facts, she said.
Sukers said that instead of working on policies to prevent the crisis of children being caught up in gang violence and the high school drop out rate due to violence, the department focuses on gender identity.
The draft guidelines cover dress code and physical appearance, school trips, and curriculum inclusiveness.
It also contains a glossary of the terms used in the policy and sets out guidelines on what is expected of schools regarding gender identity.
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