Education administrators are instructed by the Agency for International Development (USAID) to keep parents in the dark about pupils’ gender identities and sexual orientations.
In order to “assist USAID’s personnel who work in the education sector to incorporate lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+1) factors into programming,” a handbook from USAID titled “Integrating LGBTQI+ Considerations into Education Programming” was developed.
The report “provides ways that may be utilized to incorporate LGBTQI+ concerns into the education sector” and “identifies some of the issues and impediments that LGBTQI+ persons can experience in the field of education.”
In order to “respect kids’ privacy, the handbook particularly advises educational administrators to keep parents in the dark about students’ gender identity or sexual orientation. A student’s sexual orientation or gender identity should never be disclosed without the student’s consent, not even to the student’s family, according to the directive. Because some students may choose to keep their sexual orientation or gender identity a secret from their families and close friends, educators must uphold their right to privacy.”
“Promoting inclusion and equality is a crucial value, and it shows USAID’s dedication to reaching underserved communities,” according to the handbook, which also describes how it helps USAID carry out its mission.
“Efforts to enhance the learning outcomes and extend access to high-quality, equitable, and inclusive education for LGBTQI+ children across the education spectrum actively support the U.S. Government Plan on Foreign Basic Education and USAID Educational Policies,” the statement continues.
The handbook also instructs educational administrators to “Create an inclusive learning and curriculum material, Promote the ideas of diversity, inclusion, and respect, and Provide inclusion-focused professional development programs for instructors.”
“Promote and exemplify democratic principles overseas to advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world” is the stated objective of USAID.
A further statement in the handbook states that it “was prepared with the inputs of many USAID colleagues, including several members of the Agency’s Inclusive Development Hub (DDI/ID) as well as the Center for Education (DDI/ED). Bret Jones acted as the principal researcher and writer, with assistance from Anthony Cotton, Josh Josa, and Stephen Leonelli, the statement continues.”
