THE head of the 25,000 strong teachers’ union says while the battle lines are not yet drawn on the issue of gender identity in schools here, the matter needs to be discussed openly.

“I don’t think there is a war on the whole matter of gender identity just yet; however, on the basis that this remains a current and topical issue, on the basis that this is a matter that is confronting us as global citizens, it is something that as a nation we now have to take seriously,” Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) President Leighton Johnson told Tyrell Morgan, host of virtual talk show Heart to Heart, on Monday.

Gender identity, according to the World Health Organization, “refers to a person’s deeply felt, internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond to the person’s physiology or designated sex at birth”.

According to the JTA head, subscribing to that definition would spell chaos for Jamaica.

“Let’s look at the implications of all of this: In our country we have schools that are gender-based, we have all-female schools, we have all-male schools…if, as a nation, we were to subscribe to this new definition of what gender is based on — one’s intuition based on how one feels at a particular time — then this has serious implications for how we operate as an education sector,” he contended.

“These are the conversations we must have. As a nation, the Church, and any other group, we need to continue to stand against this kind of thinking. Of course, there are those who will want to promote this modern thinking, there are those who would indicate that our position is archaic and outdated and doesn’t have a basis, but I would continue to promote the thinking that we are a Christian nation and it is the Bible that defines our morality,” he said.

“I don’t believe at this point Jamaica is at the place where we can accept the repercussions of allowing this kind of thinking to become the mode of operation in our nation,” Johnson declared.

Addressing the issue of same-sex relations being introduced in sex education curriculum offerings, Johnson said, while there are individuals within the system who subscribe to this, it is not accepted by the sector.

“There are those who are enthused, they believe that there is a space now for us to engage in conversation to test the temperature of our system to see exactly what our response is…there are individuals within our space, within schools, that have dabbled in or have chosen alternative lifestyles…there are individuals within our schools who would want to promote an alternative lifestyle…but the school rules are clear,” Johnson said.

“In many instances the school rules outline, unequivocally, that in terms of sexual orientation and being engaged in open sexual activities — whether heterosexual or homosexual — these are not to take place in the open because they are considered inappropriate for the space,” the JTA president said.

While pointing out that “no education system will stifle or suppress or prevent an individual from practising a particular persuasion or sexual orientation”, Johnson, who declared that “the JTA will continue to promote the lifestyle defined by the Bible“, said, “If you choose to be of this persuasion it ought not to be taken into the school.”

“So, therefore, schools treat orientation pretty much the same way, whether heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual, any form of sexual conduct on the school compound, these are considered inappropriate and must be treated in accordance with the school rules which, in many instances, are in alignment with the constitution,” he said.

Added Johnson: “We are currently trying to identify a philosophy of education. I believe it is urgent and necessary for us to clearly indicate what we deem necessary and fit for our students to learn in sex education and ensure, as best as possible, we stick within those parameters.”

Jamaica, he said, “is a Christian nation, and being a Christian nation, of course, our morals are guided by the principles of the Bible and that we say without apology. Therefore, as a nation that has a rich history and, as a nation that is struggling to define its culture, I think right here is the perfect opportunity for us to design our curriculum to define and create the kind of student we want to produce from our school system, and I believe now is the time for us to ensure that the kind of student we want to develop is the kind that our culture will be able to identify,” he said.