The word of God is love, compassion and respect. Sometimes religious men misinterpret the word of God and instead promote hatred and bigotry. They are wrong to do so.
It is true that same-sex love has always existed in all cultures and countries throughout the history of humanity. It is also true that this love has been condemned only since the advent of the Abrahamic religions, that is, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
It is a right of parents to send their children to the school they want. It is a right of taxpayers that their taxes are not used to undermine respect and tolerance for diversity. Schools wanting to teach hatred should not expect the right to be subsidised for their activities.
Governments give money to educate children, not to discriminate against them and their teachers. It is essential that children are educated to realise their full potential whatever their sexuality. This is not possible when they – and their teachers – must either lie about their lives or else be exposed to hate. Either way they are exposed to harm.
Already LGBTQI children are many more times more likely to self-harm and to suicide than their heterosexual peers. All parents surely should place the well-being of their children above that of mean-spirited religious teachings.
Spirituality has a vital and important role. It helps guide our relationships with each other and teaches us how to behave with the best of intentions and for the best outcomes.
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have always fought among themselves about which religion is the True Word of God. On the matter of same-sex attraction, no religion should be allowed to teach hate. Religious schools should not be a sheltered workshop for intolerance. This is an abuse of taxpayer money – our money.
Religious extremism is never welcome. Why do religions only now need to be given special protection for teachings that are abhorrent? New legislation promoting intolerance is not needed. It is important for all parents, families and schools to take a stand against religious extremism so that it doesn’t get worse.
* Dr Dino Hodge (Konstantino Hadjikakou) is an academic and author of ‘The Fall Upward: Spirituality in the Lives of Lesbian Women and Gay Men’.