The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the launch of a new "assessment tool" for teachers and school staff to measure their commitment to "LGBTQ inclusion" in their classrooms.
The guide, called LGBTQ Inclusion in Schools: A Self-Assessment Tool, rates, among other things, the "inclusivity" school personnel have to queer theory and their commitment to the LGBTQ community.
It asks teachers to use gender-neutral "anatomy," referring to boys as a "a body with a penis" and girls as a "body with a vagina." Parents Defending Education founder and president Nicole Neily told Breitbart News:
The CDC's imprimatur on this 'self-assessment tool,' and the inclusion of numerous links to resources and activist organizations, amounts to little more than bullying teachers, administrators and school health professionals who might have reservations about 'affirmation' and 'inclusion' efforts in schools (...) It is troubling that during a global pandemic, this is where CDC's efforts were focused.
LGBTQ - Inclusivity (CDC) by Voz Media on Scribd
"LGBTQ Inclusion Continuum"
The CDC states that the guidance is not required to be applied in all learning centers in the country. However, each school administrator or principal may require it for their school.
The tool measures community inclusivity on what they define as a "continuum of LGBTQ inclusion," which rates workers as:
- "Committed to Change" is a "minimally inclusive" worker who is "not yet well prepared to provide inclusive and supportive environments for LGBTQ students" and asks you to commit "to making changes, and you will move up the continuum in no time."
-"Beginning to Break Through" is someone who is a "moderately inclusive" worker who has more "work" to do to "further broaden your horizons, address your barriers, and expand your efforts to be an ally."
-"Awesome Ally": these are the "highly inclusive" workers. However, the guide tells them that they have more "work" to do, as they must "recognize there is always more you can do": "Like all good allies, you will want to keep exploring, learning and share your knowledge with others."
"Re-education" for non-compliant teachers
The evaluation claims to have been created for "all users." In addition, it asks school personnel to rate themselves, to determine whether they are able to "recognize a student's gender, gender identity or sexual orientation." Those who are unable to do so must be "re-educated." The same guide recommends resources for re-education.
Staff are required not to use terms such as "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" when referring to couples, but to use the gender-neutral word "partner" instead. Similarly, it stipulates the use of "preferred pronouns" and "chosen names" of students instead of the actual ones.
It also encourages school personnel to "correct those around me if I hear them using incorrect, outdated, derogatory, or harmful language or terminology, outdated, derogatory, or harmful." It also encourages teachers to have materials in their classroom that "include visual labels (rainbow flags, pink triangles, unisex bathroom signs) marking it as a safe space for LGBTQ students."
As stipulated in the handbook, all teachers must vow to be an advocate:
I advocate for LGBTQ inclusive and affirming materials in all school and classroom environments (...) During sexual health education lessons, I present information on all types of sex, not centering on penis/vagina penetrative sex.
At the end of the evaluation, their responses are scored and resources are recommended to become "allies."
