Association files complaint against teacher for alleged transphobic remarks in video

AMPLOS (Association of Mothers and Fathers for Freedom of Sexual Orientation) has filed a complaint against the director of a group of schools in Alges, in Oeiras, because it understands that he made transphobic comments in a video posted on YouTube.

We are talking about a video released last October in which the director of the Santa Catarina school group in Linda a Velha, Oeiras, talks about various topics related to education and the school environment.

The part that angered AMPLOS was the moment when Hernani Pinho is asked how he sees the future of education in Portugal and responds that he does not foresee easy days, pointing out that “everything used to be more linear even in the most basic things.” “and that “gender identity (…) introduces greater entropy into the system.”

He suggests that “issues of gender identity are already very difficult to resolve” and cites as an example the fact that he received a letter from a guardian requesting that his son be addressed “by a specific name that is not on his ID.” “and who quotes legislation, acknowledging that as a school principal he has a ‘boss’ to whom he owes allegiance, and at the same time questioning that very legislation.

“So what if next month she decides to get a different name? Should we submit to this? Should teachers be subject to this? What if she then decides that she is not human and that she is a chicken? Do we fall under this,” he asks, without specifying what exactly they fall under.

He questions the very nature of kindergarten education, “asking questions such as whether boys or girls are more attractive.”

“And tell Pedrinho: “You can safely bring a skirt tomorrow, there’s no problem with that.” It’s terrible what’s happening to some schools in the country. Fortunately, in our country we take this calmly.” Partly, especially since there is no single point of view on this matter in the Pedagogical Council. But we need to wake up on time,” he says.

Speaking to Lusa, the vice-president of AMPLOS said that the association has already filed a complaint against the principal and teacher with the Ministry of Education, the State Secretariat of Education, the Directorate General of School Establishments (DGESTE), and the General Inspectorate. Education and the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG).

“Because we consider these statements to be transphobic. We believe that you do not comply with the law, although in the video he says that he knows about this law,” Isabel Rodriguez said.

The person in charge explained to Lusa that she found the video after the association requested information about the director following a request for help from some parents whose son, a young trans man, attends one of the group’s schools.

“We definitely believe that complaints should be filed and people should be held accountable for these situations,” he said, adding that the video case has a different gravity due to the fact that the teacher is also the director of a group of schools. .

“As far as we know, the obstacle [para a resolução do caso do jovem trans] comes from this director,” added Isabel Rodriguez.

Faced with the accusations and complaints made against him by AMPLOS, Hernán Pinho responded to Lusa that they could only be caused by bad faith or lack of knowledge, admitting, however, that this is a “very slippery issue” and confirming his statements that .

He claims that in the video he expressed his personal opinion on the matter, despite the fact that he was clearly identified as the director of the school group, ensuring that the school group he led complied with the law.

“There could be no other way, otherwise there was only one way – to submit my resignation,” he said, assuring that when it comes to a conscious and joint decision, the entire school respects and supports him.

However, he wonders whether a young person “faces the possibility of changing his legal name for reasons perhaps superficial, momentary, matters that can be changed in a week or two months.”

“I think that schools and teachers, who are subjects worthy of respect, should not be subject to such hesitation, which is easy to cause,” he said.

On the other hand, for AMPLOS, “schools should be safe, humane and dignified places” and emphasizes that the principal’s “public positions” “brought suffering and suffering, among other consequences, and there was a need for psychological support” for young people. a trans man who wants to be addressed by his male name, but who is always called a girl by the director.

The association also said this is the first complaint of its kind it has filed, despite being aware of several schools that are “putting up some barriers.”