Parents have expressed outrage and opposition to the promotion of same-sex relationships in schools across Jamaica. According to media reports, Christian educators who are opposed to the LGBTQ push in schools across the island are being labelled as homophobic and face the risk of losing their jobs for their beliefs.
Celena Dyer-Mitchell, speaking to the Freedom Come Rain, expressed concern, sadness and surprise at the report. “I am a bit surprised to hear that that would be the position of teachers in a Jamaican society, right, where, um, normally, that wouldn’t have been the belief, nor the practice… we are still a Christian society, and what is wrong in God’s sight and in His words is wrong,” she said.
“It is really, really a sad day when, in a Jamaican context, the people who are in a position to mold the minds of our young ones, and, of course, the future of the society would be ostracized, would be bullied, you know, (for) standing up for what is right. It’s really sad.” Dyer Mitchell added.
Charmaine Mcghie, who is a mother to young adults, also expressed concern and outrage that Christian teachers are not all allowed to voice their belief that the LGBT movement is morally wrong and at the fact that LGBT groups are targeting schools.
“It is one of the most gut-wrenching things for me to see that this scourge has come to our nation to the level that it has and in such a short space of time. It is really painful to hear a teacher, the one who has guided so many of our leaders, so many of our pastors…to see our teachers being threatened by the very persons that they guided years ago to say that “It is okay for my child (my children are young, I have a 20 year old, I have a 17 year old, in the school system) and you’re going to say to my child, allow persons to come in and say to them that it is okay to be homosexual, and in the same breath, it is incorrect for a teacher to say that Jesus Christ is Lord. I really think there is something wrong with that.”
Another parent, a father of two young boys, also echoed this belief, adding that it is unfair that teachers in a Christian country are being prohibited from providing Christian advice to students. The parents spoke to the Freedom Come Rain newspaper during the hosting of Weaponised Worship, which was held in Newport, Manchester, on January 24.
“I understand that the LGBTQ community is large and powerful in terms of monetary strength, and as such, I believe that they’re using it to enforce their principles on others. So that is where I have the issue,” he expressed, “That’s fine with you, but when you want to encourage it on my kids or enforce it in the schools, what gives you that right? You know when it’s not a part of the regular school environment, why is it that they have the liberty to come into schools and give support to students who feel that way, as opposed to Christians who want to come to these kids?
“It is very unfair where we are being a Christian nation [and] we cannot give Christian counsel,” he lamented.
Both mothers say that while homosexual activity has always existed under the radar, they have never seen the LGBT lifestyle publicly embraced, however, Joyce Samuels, who is a Christian educator and school chaplain at a prominent high school, says that she has seen it, and reports that it is often encouraged by adults. She also stated that children are being ambushed by the guise of assistance from LGBT groups.
“They have ways and means of sugar-coating the bad stuff in there in disguise of helping, wanting to help, paying for subjects for students, paying for school fees or school contribution funds for students, helping parents, especially single parents who need the help. In the meantime, they are teaching the kids. They are infiltrating the children with their agenda,” she warns, “And we know what their agenda is. So we have seen it.”
They all urge parents to be vigilant and protect their children from the influence of the LGBT movement.
Dyer Mitchell stated that she exercises care in teaching her children what the Word of God says on the issue and what the standards of God are for Christians. She also believes that parents have to be aware of what is taking place in the culture.
“We really, really have to be cognisant of what is happening in the society; we can’t just go to church and go back home, and then that is it. We have to know what is happening in the music, what is happening in the culture, what is happening internationally, because at some point, very soon, the international landscape will seep into our environment and culture and we want to change that,” she said.