Interview with Joefin Peter

Question: What do parents need to know about how SOGI is addressed in schools?

00:00:05

So, I think parents need to know that SOGI in schools is done in an age-appropriate way and it is in no way sexualizing children or is teaching them anything that is going to completely, radically change them, or is not going to brainwash them in one way or another. This is just education and empowerment in a different way that is inclusive of other identities that kids might have not been exposed to at home. Or in their society. And I think it's also important for parents to realize that if parents and teachers aren't doing certain education, media and other sources might do that education for them.

Question: What is the purpose of teaching about SOGI, as you see it?

00:01:05

To me, the importance of SOGI or any education is, knowledge is power and coming from a South Asian background sometimes, or in history, this knowledge and power has been kept from us and to me it is empowering for people to know things to be informed, and I think that's what is happening with SOGI education as opposed to how people might think it is threatening of certain values or beliefs. I think it is just empowering people to know everything that is out there.

Question: What are some of the fears about SOGI-focused education that you have heard?

00:01:50

Some of the incorrect fears or myths that I have heard is that this is going to brainwash kids into becoming gay or queer or all of a sudden become trans. And that it's going to take imaginative play and exploit it into something it's not supposed to be. I've also heard like this is part of the sin of the Western world, or how far we've fallen. I think another like religious kind of connotation. Has also been oh, This is why you can see that the end days are near. That's why these things are happening.

Question: As a member of the Christian community, what is important to understand about SOGI in schools?

00:02:39

So as a Christian community member, and someone who's trying to navigate balancing my cultural identity and my religious identity, I think for me it's been important to understand how. This is how Jesus meant for us to love one another and to me. When I love another human being, it is as a whole, or that includes all parts of them, and to me, I don't want anyone to shy away from expressing that side of them or any side of them because they're afraid I might react one way or another. And as a person of colour who's had to educate constantly about matters of race and ethnicity, one thing I have done after some friends have pointed it out to me is educate myself on sexual orientation, gender queerness and things like that, just so that my peers don't have to educate me, and I think that's why SOGI Education is so important. It takes some of that invisible labour away from the LGBTQ. Community that they might feel like they have to do in order to belong in order to feel safe. In order to yeah, be in communion with one another.

Question: Is there anything else you want to share?

00:04:03

I think one thing I do want to add for parents who are coming into the country, especially new immigrants and things like that. I can understand as a child who also did immigrate here with a family. It is daunting and so many things are unknown, and I think that is the kind of curiosity we should be going into SOGI education with that it's an unknown that we should be learning, and we should be open to hearing about and curious about and not something we're shying away from or demonizing just because it's new. And again, from a person of colour perspective, this isn't new like our ancestors and our cultures had this in place and then we lost it over time, and I think it's empowering that we're getting this education back.