LGBT+ students urge schools to do more to promote inclusivity

GILLIAN KLAWANSKY

The schools say they are fostering inclusive environments. But, while they have taken some clear steps, LGBT+ teenagers say they believe the issue is often swept under the rug.

Jeremy* a King David High School Linksfield (KDL) scholar believes that Jewish beliefs surrounding the LGBT+ community take precedence over everything at the school. “In general, there’s no real space for change within the school environment, and within the community,” he says.

“Mostly, the school pushes the issue aside,” says Michael*, another KDL student. “It isn’t being homophobic, it’s just not necessarily inclusive of that sort of ideal at the school.”

Michael, however, praises the school for running a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), started in 2015. This group is student led to provide a safe and supportive environment for LGBT+ scholars, as well as their heterosexual allies. “It’s a huge step for the school to allow that, and we’re really happy about it. But there have been issues,” says Michael.

Principal Lorraine Srage; Rabbi Craig Kacev, the general director of the South African Board of Jewish Education; and pupils began seriously tackling the LGBT+ issue through an awareness committee set up in 2014. They consulted experts and organisations in the United States which were tackling these issues, and drew from their expertise, says head of KDL’s counselling and educational support department, Meryl Malkin.

“We also consulted David Bilchitz, the director of the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights, and International Law. In our community it’s always a sensitive issue, and we’re a school with so many mixed sensibilities.

“We were advised to focus on making LGBT+ students feel normal within the school setting, and giving them a safe space. The best advice we received was to form a GSA. While the popularity of the club has fluctuated since its inception, it’s now flourishing, says Malkin.

Yet, there have been hiccups. “We weren’t allowed to have a stand to advertise our group on open day because the school was afraid to scare people away,” says Gemma*, another KDL student. “It comes across that the school is more interested in money, and less interested in creating an inclusive environment. The prioritisation is often a bit muddled.”

The school says the group was represented. “We were allowed to display the group, but we didn’t do it separately,” says Malkin. “It’s part of the awareness committee, and the poster was on that committee board. Perhaps we need to reconsider that. At the time, we thought the concept of GSA was new to a lot of parents.”

The school tackles LGBT+ issues in other ways, including sexuality and gender in the life orientation syllabus, and by making LGBT+ issues part of another new initiative, lashon tovah (good speech).

“This addresses bullying and prejudices in general, and includes LGBT+ issues. Linksfield is also working on integrating the guidebook from Commonwealth Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis on supporting LGBT+ students in orthodox Jewish schools.”

Emily*, a Herzlia student, weighs in. “Herzlia tries to avoid LGBT+ issues as much as possible, which doesn’t help because it’s just pushing down the subject. It doesn’t make you feel good if you know you’re gay or bisexual, and the school is trying to hide that.” There are, however, teachers at the school who she says have helped her negotiate her identity. She believes Herzlia should have a GSA.

Herzlia’s director of education, Geoff Cohen, says the school has always had a very open policy with regards to LGBT+ students. “Kids who have come out or are transsexual or transgender have always been part of our schools, and are accepted as members of our community,” he says.

“We have counsellors at school who talk to those wanting or battling to come out. I was happy to read the chief rabbi of the UK’s booklet on looking after kids in our community who are battling with their sexuality. LGBT+ kids are members of our community, and need to be part of us.”

At Herzlia and King David schools, same-sex partners have been welcomed at school dances.

Andrew Baker, the principal of King David High School Victory Park says, “We strive to foster an environment of acceptance and tolerance in a non-judgemental school climate. I like to think that my students feel free to approach anyone on the staff that they feel comfortable with to discuss any issues that are troubling them.”

Rabbi Leron Bernstein, the managing director of Yeshiva College says, “In various ways, we communicate to learners that human beings are diverse. This sets a tone of acceptance, understanding, and inclusivity at our school, combined with established and promoted channels to encourage our learners to reach out for support, for whatever challenges they face.”

But, he says, “There’s always more we can do to support our learners in the area of LGBT+ and across the board in fostering an environment of inclusivity, understanding and mutual respect, directed by the central Torah tenet of, ve’ahavta le’reiacha kamocha (to love your fellow as yourself).”

Stuart*, a Jewish student at Reddam House, sums up what he believes schools should do. “School administrations need to drop the excuse of change taking time. A change as important as this must be enacted as soon as possible, because queer students are feeling erased, excluded, angry, and alone every day. Tweaks to the change can occur afterwards if necessary.”

Some students say they find acceptance through youth movements, especially Habonim.

Eden Plein, the deputy general secretary at Habonim, says, “We are welcoming of LGBT+ students and madrichim (leaders) We make that explicit. We don’t believe that sexual identity or orientation breaches Judaism.”

Bnei Akiva National Chairman Illan Biddle says, “Informal education is an amazing conduit for kids to be guided by and confide in counsellors. We attract a broad spectrum of chanichim (camp attendees) and encourage them to be open with our madrichim. They will be heard and cared for within a safe environment.

*names have been changed