Cape Town - A group of African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) members gathered outside the legislature yesterday to voice their strong opposition to unisex/gender-neutral bathrooms and what they referred to as “blasphemous diversity workshops” at schools.
“No to unisex toilets”, “Educate, don’t indoctrinate”, and “Keep ungodly policies outside of our schools”, were among the many “VOTE ACDP” and “Vote for Liberty” posters carried by its members in blue.
One particular poster depicted a family carrying an umbrella while a rainbow rains down on them, denoting opposition to LGBTQIA identities.
The group of about 150 people also sang hymns in Afrikaans, with the protest concluding with a church prayer calling for “godly governance” through “godly principles”.
There was no memorandum of demands handed over to any provincial official.
ACDP provincial leader Ferlon Christians said: “The unisex toilets will put learners in more danger.
“We have encouraged parents where these toilets are erected and a girl or boy is raped that they must take the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and Department of Basic Education (DBE) to court.
“Schools should be a safe place for our learners.”
ACDP councillor Marvin Christians said: “SAPS has lost the fight on crime, it’s lost the fight on gender-based violence, and we believe, should this be implemented, it will increase these stats that are already horrific.”
ACDP Oostenberg Regional chairperson Cheslyn Jacobs said: “Let us not compromise. We say no to unisex toilets. We won’t confuse the children, make them feel it’s okay to wear pants today, and panties tomorrow, the devil is a liar.”
Since making headlines, the Freedom Front Plus, the National Freedom
Party, and the Muslim Judicial Council condemned the drafted guidelines by the Department of Basic Education.
A Change.org petition created by concerned Athlone parent Rudayba Rasool on November 14, opposing unisex bathrooms, has gained close to 99 000 signatures in support.
DBE spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the department was facilitating discussions on “Socio-educational Inclusion of Diverse Sexual Orientation,
Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics in School”.
He said gender-neutral bathrooms would provide a safe space for gender non-conforming and transgender learners.
Mhlanga said the document that had been leaked and reported on had evolved and was not yet ready for public participation.
Education MEC David Maynier said: “As the ACDP is aware, the Western
Cape draft guidelines were never approved, and our position remains that having separate girls’ and boys’ bathrooms should remain the norm,” Maynier said.
“The fact is that school governing bodies, and not the DBE, should make decisions as to whether to add unisex bathrooms, should they wish to do so.
“We will comment on the DBE’s draft guidelines as a province when asked to do so during that process.”
shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za
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