Rosa Lëtzebuerg wishes to supplement the joint press release issued yesterday by CID Fraen a Gender with an updated position following this morning's debates in the Petitions Committee.
While Luxembourg reaffirms its commitment to an education system focused on equality, inclusion and the well-being of every pupil, significant challenges remain. The rights of LGBTIQA+ pupils are still undermined by discrimination and violence in schools, which contradicts the objectives of national education policy and fundamental human rights principles.
Petition No. 3198 calls for the removal of LGBTIQA+ topics from school curricula for minors. It reflects a worrying ideological approach that stigmatises LGBTIQA+ identities by presenting them as a danger or an ideology, while ignoring scientific realities. It is also clear that the portrayal of the LGBTIQA+ community as a danger stems from a fear of the unknown. The petition's sponsors have shown that this fear is not based on factual information from the school curriculum or educational philosophy on society as a whole.
Petition No. 3198 is part of a global trend of repressive laws targeting LGBTIQ+ people. Recent political developments in the United States show that there are no limits to the harmful invisibility of the LGBTIQ+ community and that the consequences for the community are fatal. These approaches, based on censorship and exclusion, aim only to make LGBTIQA+ people invisible and perpetuate inequalities.
According to a recent study conducted by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), 68% of LGBTIQA+ people surveyed in Luxembourg report having experienced harassment, mockery or threats at school. This discriminatory behaviour has serious repercussions: isolation, declining academic performance, depression and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts. Ignoring these realities only exacerbates the exclusion of the students concerned and jeopardises their mental health and development.
Petition No. 3198, like the speeches accompanying it, runs counter to human rights, the government coalition agreement on inclusive education, and the objectives of social cohesion. It fuels an anti-queer climate that only serves to divide society. In contrast, Petition No. 3281, currently under review in the House of Commons, proposes concrete measures to strengthen the inclusion of LGBTIQA+ issues in education and create a safe school environment for all students.
Inclusive education is one response to these challenges. Despite long-standing efforts by queer organisations and their allies, a 2023 study conducted by the University of Luxembourg showed that LGBTIQA+ issues are still not consistently integrated into school curricula. This invisibility prevents students from better understanding diversity and growing up in an environment where their identity is recognised. Inclusive education aims to promote the fundamental values of respect, diversity and equality. It plays a crucial role in preventing violence, harassment and discrimination.
The integration of LGBTIQA+ issues goes beyond individual concerns. It contributes to building a more just and inclusive society, where human rights are respected and every student can flourish. By taking action today, Luxembourg can become a model of inclusive education, guaranteeing every student an environment conducive to personal development and respect for their dignity.
We call on policymakers, educators, and society as a whole to firmly reject anti-queer rhetoric and promote education based on diversity and inclusion.