By Francis Allan L. Angelo and Sean Rafio
On August 7, 2020, the hashtag #ActBetterAC trended on Twitter after students and alumni of Assumption Iloilo started calling out their alma mater school over a new contract for enrollees of school year 2020-2021 that was leaked on social media.
The new contract states that “Immorality is considered a grave offense sanctionable by dropping from the rolls following due process. The posting in social media of acts constituting immorality as described herein besmirches the name and reputation of Assumption Iloilo which reserves the right to take legal steps to defend its name and reputation.”
The definition of immorality, according to the new contract, includes: “acts that are contrary to Catholic morals, teachings and values… homosexuality, adultery, incest, sexual abuse… provided and discussed in sections 2353-59, 2380-81, 2388-91 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church which, by reference, is made integral to this Learner’s Handbook”.
Parents were emailed with the new handbook amendments adding homosexuality to the definition of immoral acts as stated on the contract.
According to Gabriel Umadhay, Iloilo City’s head of LGBT Affairs, “It is disciminating and intolerable! Each gender does not speak of a certain behavior. We are calling the attention of the nuns who run the school to look into this. Your act of faith should not discriminate persons of diverse SOGIE. The Iloilo City is a place of inclusive love and we will do everything to keep it that way. We challenge the school to release a statement and open up their doors for discussion.”.
The Iloilo City Council has passed an Anti- Discrimination Ordinance that prevents unlawful acts and conducts of discrimination based on sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Also, the Department of Education’s Child Protection Policy protects students from acts of exclusion, distinction, restriction, or preference based on ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, among others.
45 LGBT groups have signed a joint statement demanding Assumption Iloilo to scrap the illegal provision on immorality that includes homosexuality, and to ensure that the school remain a safe space for everyone within the institution, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and sexual characteristics.
Daily Guardian has reached out to Assumption Iloilo for their response on the “homophobic” contract, but it has yet to respond.
‘WE’RE NOT IMMORAL’
Consequently, various groups and personalities slammed Assumption School-Iloilo for defining homosexuality as an immoral act that could lead to the expulsion of students.
The policy is included in the school’s purported contract or conforme with parents and guardians of students who enrolled in the upcoming school year.
In a collective statement, the groups and personalities said the school’s policy is in conflict with issuances of the Department of Education and laws against all forms of discrimination.
They also cited Iloilo City Ordinance No. 2018-090 which penalizes discrimination.
The statement said students have become victims of discrimination because of their orientations and choices.
“When an educational institution values its name and reputation over upholding the lives and dignity of its students, it shows that it upholds bigotry instead of justice, hate instead of compassion. We have already heard narratives of discrimination against persons of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions, and sexual characteristics (SOGIESC)—coming from students who have experienced the threat of expulsion first-hand. In fact, many of them are fearful of being ‘outed’ or being ‘discovered’ in Assumption Iloilo.”
They added that the contract makes students feel unsafe in their schools.
“The conforme is now proof of the standing policy of the institution on homosexuality. It is hypocritical to propose measures on immorality in an institution, while blatantly disallowing the existence of persons of diverse SOGIESC, and denying their right to education within the said institution. As it stands, this discrimination has been the framework which led to young people and students not only feeling unsafe in the institution, but also being stripped of their fundamental human rights.”
They demanded that Assumption Iloilo scrap the “illegal provision on immorality that includes homosexuality, and to ensure that the school remain a safe space for everyone within the institution, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and sexual characteristics.”
They also reminded the school of the provisions of the Characteristics of Marianist Education (CME) such as:
– Create a favorable environment for education. More than simply a slogan, Marianist family spirit is a way of life with specific traits discernible in the educational communities it animates. By providing a climate of acceptance, discipline, and love, the school acts as a “second family,” fostering human growth and maturity;
– Cultivate interpersonal relationships characterized by openness, respect, integrity and dialogue … (A)ll members of the educational community, boards of directors, administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and students communicate respectfully, recognizing others as individuals within the same community;
– Educate persons to accept and respect differences in a pluralistic society. As the people of the world come increasingly into contact with one another, differences among them become more apparent. If the world of the future is to be peaceful, students of today must learn how to appreciate cultural difference and how to work with people unlike themselves.
They also noted that the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is referenced in that conforme, also states, “Homosexuals must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”
“It is beyond high time we recognize that the inclination to homosexual acts does not diminish the intrinsic worth of any person. As a Catholic school that professes to uphold justice without borders, Assumption Iloilo must be one with the LGBTQ+ community in creating a world of genuine equality,” they said.
The signatories to the collective statement are Iloilo Pride Team, Gabriela Panay-Guimaras, Bahaghari National, Gabriela Women’s Party, Kadamay, Kaisog, Partido sang Mainuswagon nga Bumulutho-UPV, Samahan ng Mag-aaral at Kabataang Kababaihan UPV, UP Visayas University Student Council, BulSU Bahaghari, Moniq M. Muyargas (UPV LGBT Psychology Professor and member of the LGBT Psychology Special Interest Group of the Psychological Association of the Philippines), La Villa Pride, PUP Kasarianlan, UPV Lipad, Anakbayan Panay, Tribu Duag, UPV School of Technology Student Council, Justin Francis Bionat (Youth Voices Count), Dawn Macahilo (Gender Advocate), BulSU Banyuhay, Bahaghari Nueva Ecija, Miz Kiki Krunch and Tayaw Dayaw Baguio City, Bahaghari UP Diliman, Kabataan Partylist-WVSU, League of Filipino Students-WVSU, ANAKBAYAN – WVSU, SAMASA – WVSU, John Ian Alenciaga (AlterMidya Panay), OutRight Action International, All UP Academic Employees Union-Iloilo Chapter, Anakbayan UPV, Nonoy Espina, Ira Pahila (Gender Advocate), UPV Gender and Development Program, Bisdak Pride, Inc., San Julian Pride Advocacy Group, Mujer-LGBT Organization, Inc., Bahaghari San Fernando, UPV College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Student Council, League of Filipino Students-UPV, Anakbayan-UPV, KARATULA – UPV, Oikos Ecological Movement, Student Christian Movement-UPV, Sandigan ng Magaaral Para sa Sambayanan (SAMASA)-UPV, UPV Sociological Society, and ASEAN SOGIE Caucus.
