ST Forum: Gay Teacher's Outing Not Appropriate (Sept 22)

ST Forum: Gay Teacher's Outing Not Appropriate

In the letter, 'Gay teacher's outing a milestone in debate' (ST, Sept 18), Dr Peter Goh Kok Yong stated that '... heterosexuality has always been the biased model'.

It is actually the natural model, based on the physical attributes of males and females. Moreover, it is the best model for the benefit of mankind.

Yes, teachers are supposed to provide 'unbiased advice to young students' but who is to ensure this? In fact, parents are supposed to do this important work, not teachers.

Students are very impressionable and prone to hero-worshipping teachers that they like. By admitting that he is gay, Mr Otto Fong has issued an open invitation to students to find out about his lifestyle and perhaps some of them might want to follow in his footsteps.

It is the gay lifestyle and its implications that most people are wary of.

There are gays who live their choice of lifestyle quietly but there are others who aggressively try to influence people to follow suit.

These are the ones who, if they are teachers, may cause the most harm in schools and elsewhere.

Let us not be too harsh on gays but let us not be blind to the dangers they pose to society and mankind.

Remember that, very often, silence means consent.

Patricia Maria De Souza (Ms)

ST Forum: Gay teacher's outing a milestone in debate (Sep 18)

STRAITS TIMES Sep 18, 2007

Gay teacher's outing a milestone in debate

I REFER to Mr Paul Jacob's article, 'A teacher's disclosure and the issue is out in the open' (ST, Sept 15). I applaud Mr Otto Fong's honesty and courage in coming out as a gay person and a teacher. It is indeed a milestone in the gay debate in Singapore. Despite the large number of passionately argued letters that have appeared on the gay issue over the past months, we actually have not progressed very far. As Mr Jacob pointed out, the loudest voices come from both ends of the spectrum of tolerance. Neither end is likely to be swayed by the other. Sitting silent in the middle is the largely conservative majority who may yet change their opinion of gay people if only they get to know them. That is why Mr Fong's coming out is so significant. Unlike black people striving for racial equality in the US in the 1960s, gay people are invisible in many societies, including Singapore. Hence, the debate remains largely conceptual, with highly skewed academic data and examples thrown in by the opposing camps. What is so obviously missing is the subject of the debate itself - the gay people. For fear of societal rejection and discrimination, most gays in Singapore remain in the closet. While Mr Fong does not represent every gay person in Singapore, his identity and life humanises the gay issue in a way no amount of well-constructed arguments can ever achieve. What is equally significant is the fact that Mr Fong is a school teacher. The concern raised by Mr Jacob is whether Mr Fong is able to provide neutral, unbiased advice to young students who may be uncertain about their orientation. The reality is that there has never been any neutral, unbiased advice given to students on sexuality. Heterosexuality has always been the biased model. While the Education Ministry may want to acknowledge the concerns of parents who are uncomfortable with gay teachers in schools, it would do well not to continue to hide them in the closet. It should publicly acknowledge the existence of gay teachers and assure parents that all its teachers, gay or straight, are expected to uphold the utmost standards in their professional conduct and will not impose their personal values, including sexuality, on the students. Dr Peter Goh Kok Yong

ST Insight: A teacher's disclosure and the issue is out in the open (Sept 15)

A teacher's disclosure and the issue is out in the open
by Paul Jacob
The Straits Times - Insight, Sep 15, 2007

We are supposed to be a society that is evolving and becoming more accepting of changing social norms.

But Mr Otto Fong should know that we remain largely and deeply conservative.

Despite what blog- and Net-savvy Internet users are calling a brave outing online last week by the teacher at a top all-boys school about his being gay, there is a larger and quieter majority more apt to regard the recent actions of Mr Fong as some kind of misguided honesty or stunt, one that they worry could cause more harm to those students that the disclosure purports to help.

By all the accounts that I have seen online and in The New Paper, Mr Fong, 38, is an A-one teacher; one who has continued to receive the support of those students who blog, or who have responded to discussion threads on the numerous sites that picked up on his outing.

While he has removed his posting from his blog, reportedly after discussions with his superiors, many others have posted copies, so it continues to generate debate.

There are those who salute his decision and the honesty with which he has put his case across.

It must be a difficult decision to go public about being gay.

But it is one thing to do so to those nearest and dearest - family, relatives, friends - and another to do so on an openly accessible platform like the Internet.

It is apt to spark all manner of responses and consequences, as Mr Fong has now found out - most immediately, of course, in the reaction from his employers.

It is not just in the nature of Singapore society and the variegated opinions that exist here about how we feel towards those who are gay.

The outcome of that debate continues to be moulded, with the loudest voices not surprisingly coming from those at both ends of the spectrum of tolerance.

But in the issue at hand, it is also being shaped by the nature of the job that Mr Fong holds and, with that, the kind of interactions and influence he can have over his classes.

No one has made any accusations and nothing untoward exists about his conduct, it must be emphasised here.

But it is in the perceptions, the fertile imaginations, the what-ifs - all of which colour the discussions.

Let me illustrate with the case of Senator Larry Craig of Idaho in that most often-cited bastion of tolerance and openness, the United States.

He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in a Minnesota airport men's room after being arrested for lewd conduct. He then withdrew his confession, strenuously denied he was gay, and said he did nothing inappropriate.

But under pressure from a Republican Party concerned about the damage to its image and that of the legislature he represents, he resigned.

Clearly, over there, the private conduct of a public individual matters.

What about here in Singapore?

Mr Fong recognises and has acknowledged that he is part of a profession and an institution that 'moulds the future generation of Singapore leaders'.

What puzzles me is what he hoped to achieve in making his announcement. Was it to demonstrate that there is no shame in being of a different sexual orientation? Or was it to show that there is no bar on what profession you can be in?

Or that he believes that if senior politicians have become more accommodating with the presence and contributions that gays are making to society, then it is fine to out oneself?

Or maybe, as he appears to indicate, he was prompted by a point made by a young adult at a forum about the lack of guidance he had growing up as a gay teenager.

Was that the trigger? That in outing himself, he would be in a position to be of help to those youths in school who may be uncertain about their orientation at this stage of their lives?

If so, what then would he tell those who seek his advice?

One has to question the ability and the appropriateness of someone who has outed himself being able to provide neutral, unbiased advice - and the wisdom of whichever direction it is that the puzzled student has been pointed towards.

His supporters, admirers and students provide strong backing for his continued value as an educator. Some would argue that he is, after all, the same person he was before.

Perhaps Mr Fong's decision to out himself has a simpler and more fundamental basis. It springs from a natural desire to be part of a society which accepts someone for what he or she is. It was a difficult decision that he made.

But this does not obscure the fact that he is the only full-time teacher, as far as I am aware, who has gone public about his sexual orientation.

Like it or not, fair or unfair, that has now changed the dynamics of how he will be viewed by those with whom he interacts, colleagues and parents included.

Ditto, I think, for others in the profession. Because let's be honest about this: Mr Fong is not the only gay teacher in the system.

His decision may not have the well-meaning effect he intended. He should have thought about how it could affect colleagues elsewhere before making his arbitrary decision.

Many here remember the position espoused by former prime minister Goh Chok Tong in 2003 about the Government employing openly homosexual people, even in sensitive jobs.

But in the light of Mr Fong's disclosure, it falls on his employers and, more broadly, the Education Ministry, to manage what fallout there is to come from the episode, including telling the public its stand on gay teachers in its ranks.

Much as I was initially inclined to suggest to Mr Fong that it was best to have let sleeping dogs lie, his decision is generating pertinent discussion on an issue that the ministry now has little choice but to deal with.

pjacob@sph.com.sg

TNP: Gay Teachers Divided Over Issue: Should they be open about it? (Sept 15)

Gay Teachers Divided Over Issue: Should they be open about it?
by Liew Hanqing

Some support teacher who outed himself on blog. Others say such personal details should be kept private

Gay teachers here are split on whether they should speak publicly about their sexual orientation.

While some support one gay teacher's decision to come out on his blog, others disagree with what he did.

The latter group feels that he may have revealed too much, too soon.

However, his supporters think otherwise.

A 32-year-old gay former junior college (JC) teacher offered this argument: 'Heterosexual teachers are able to talk to their students about their personal lives. Many life lessons are transmitted to students through this form of bonding.

'When parents require gay teachers not to talk about their personal lives, it curtails their ability to connect with their students, and to be themselves in the classroom.'

He said he made the decision to come out to his students and colleagues at the JC he used to teach at because it was a 'matter of personal integrity'.

'This is who I am - I hope coming out to them helps them become more accepting of diversity,' he said.

Though he is aware of some parents' concerns over having an openly gay man teach their children, he says their worries are unfounded.

'The younger (these children) are exposed to these issues, the fewer hang-ups they may have when they grow up, and they may be more certain about who they really are,' he said.

He even said he felt teachers who were open about their sexual orientation were a valuable resource.

CONFUSION

He said: 'If the students have no positive role models to turn to, they may go through a period of confusion about their sexuality.

'By placing restrictions on gay teachers, the schools are effectively reducing the support that some teenagers need.'

Disagreeing, a gay teacher in his late 20s said he had reservations about coming out to his students, whom he feels are 'too young' to deal with such issues.

Most of his students are 13 and 14 years old.

He said: 'It's unclear whether teens at that age can actually be swayed by a person in a position of authority like a teacher, but I'd prefer not to impose my personal values or beliefs on them, while they are still relatively immature.'

He added that he feels teaching is a profession which requires drawing a clear line between the personal and professional domains.

'There are still many misconceptions people have about gay people - that we are promiscuous, and that we are out to prey on children.

'Being too open at this point will only cause unnecessary anxiety within the school, and among parents.'

The teacher who outed himself on his blog had earlier attended a forum to discuss the concerns of gay teenagers in the Singapore education system.

Held last month, the forum drew a 110-strong crowd, including about 20 teachers.

A secondary school teacher in his 30s said he was aware of the forum, but chose not to attend because he 'did not want to out (him)self.'

He said: 'The school environment is not open for discussion about homosexuality, except in a derogatory manner.'

He has chosen to remain closeted to both his colleagues and students, because he says he does not want to jeopardise his career.

'Some associate gay people with paedophilia and other demeaning things. If colleagues and students know about my sexuality, they will simply label me,' he said.

SCHOOL CULTURE

He added that the decision to come out of the closet depended, to a large extent, on the school's culture and willingness to discuss issues like sexual orientation openly.

He said: 'The teacher who came out on his blog was probably able to do it because he felt confident enough in his working environment - that the school management would be understanding about it.'

He added, however, that other schools - such as the co-educational school he teaches in - are much more conservative.

'Some schools just aren't ready to handle the open discussion of issues like sexuality. In such schools, there is no value in coming out - it will only create a backlash,' he said.

TNP: Students of outed gay teacher: Most of us already knew (Sept 15)

Students of outed gay teacher: Most of us already knew

by Ng Tze Yong

Some cried foul.

But those who knew the gay teacher at the centre of the brouhaha were barely fazed.

Students who spoke on condition of anonymity told TheNew Paper there was hardly any flap at the all-boys school yesterday, other than the initial surprise and a little embarrassed silence.

'People asked one another if they heard about it, and that was about all,' Roy, a Secondary 3 student, said.

Blogger muquan, a student from the school, wrote: 'Good teachers are hard to come by these days. Better know how to hold on to one when u find one. Who cares about his sexual preferences?'

Michael, a Secondary 3 student, said: 'He is a nice person; we had other things to gossip about.'

Yesterday morning, five days after his blog entry, the teacher stepped into a class to conduct a lesson on the physics of atomic bombs, looking 'totally normal'.

John, a Sec 2 student from the class, said: 'Most of the class already knew but people were embarrassed to ask.

'Besides, some people already knew about it because he had told them before.'

Sexuality, influencing the young, non-traditional lifestyles - Michael shrugged them all off.

'Having a gay teacher in a boy's school is just like having a male teacher in a girls' school, isn't it?' he asked.

'I would actually describe myself as homophobic,' he added, 'but in a general way.'

It doesn't seem to make sense. Like saying you're racist, but only some of the time.

But Michael explained: 'It depends on whether you get to know a person first and then find out he is gay or the other way round.

'To the outside world, the teacher is a gay person. To us, he is and always will be our teacher.'

Yesterday, Michael said he heard a friend muse: 'I think that today, I became less homophobic (after learning that our teacher is gay).'

It's something else to convince the parents, though.

John said his mother was 'very worried'. She frowned and asked many questions when he showed her the teacher's blog.

'But I told her it's not a big deal because my job as a student is just to learn as much as I can,' he said.

Blogger muquan thanked Mr Fong for 'removing more superficiality from this world'.

'He doesn't have to be straight to be a good role model,' muquan wrote. 'So u mean all straight teachers are good role models? Don't make me LAUGH.'

In a statement yesterday, the teacher said his blog was meant for his colleagues, not students who he feels 'are too young to deal with these issues'.

He wrote: 'My main concern is to help my students do well in their studies.

'I'm happy that the school has not asked me to leave. I will not discuss the issue with my students because the blog was not intended for them.'

ST: Thinking Aloud (Sept 15)

Sep 15, 2007
THINKING ALOUD A teacher's disclosure and the issue is out in the open
By Paul Jacob, Deputy Political Editor
WE ARE supposed to be a society that is evolving and becoming more accepting of changing social norms. But Mr Otto Fong should know that we remain largely and deeply conservative. Despite what blog- and Net-savvy Internet users are calling a brave outing online last week by the teacher at a top all-boys school about his being gay, there is a larger and quieter majority more apt to regard the recent actions of Mr Fong as some kind of misguided honesty or stunt, one that they worry could cause more harm to those students that the disclosure purports to help. By all the accounts that I have seen online and in The New Paper, Mr Fong, 38, is an A-one teacher; one who has continued to receive the support of those students who blog, or who have responded to discussion threads on the numerous sites that picked up on his outing. While he has removed his posting from his blog, reportedly after discussions with his superiors, many others have posted copies, so it continues to generate debate. There are those who salute his decision and the honesty with which he has put his case across. It must be a difficult decision to go public about being gay. But it is one thing to do so to those nearest and dearest - family, relatives, friends - and another to do so on an openly accessible platform like the Internet. It is apt to spark all manner of responses and consequences, as Mr Fong has now found out - most immediately, of course, in the reaction from his employers. It is not just in the nature of Singapore society and the variegated opinions that exist here about how we feel towards those who are gay. The outcome of that debate continues to be moulded, with the loudest voices not surprisingly coming from those at both ends of the spectrum of tolerance. But in the issue at hand, it is also being shaped by the nature of the job that Mr Fong holds and, with that, the kind of interactions and influence he can have over his classes. No one has made any accusations and nothing untoward exists about his conduct, it must be emphasised here. But it is in the perceptions, the fertile imaginations, the what-ifs - all of which colour the discussions. Let me illustrate with the case of Senator Larry Craig of Idaho in that most often-cited bastion of tolerance and openness, the United States. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in a Minnesota airport men's room after being arrested for lewd conduct. He then withdrew his confession, strenuously denied he was gay, and said he did nothing inappropriate. But under pressure from a Republican Party concerned about the damage to its image and that of the legislature he represents, he resigned. Clearly, over there, the private conduct of a public individual matters. What about here in Singapore? Mr Fong recognises and has acknowledged that he is part of a profession and an institution that 'moulds the future generation of Singapore leaders'. What puzzles me is what he hoped to achieve in making his announcement. Was it to demonstrate that there is no shame in being of a different sexual orientation? Or was it to show that there is no bar on what profession you can be in? Or that he believes that if senior politicians have become more accommodating with the presence and contributions that gays are making to society, then it is fine to out oneself? Or maybe, as he appears to indicate, he was prompted by a point made by a young adult at a forum about the lack of guidance he had growing up as a gay teenager. Was that the trigger? That in outing himself, he would be in a position to be of help to those youths in school who may be uncertain about their orientation at this stage of their lives? If so, what then would he tell those who seek his advice? One has to question the ability and the appropriateness of someone who has outed himself being able to provide neutral, unbiased advice - and the wisdom of whichever direction it is that the puzzled student has been pointed towards. His supporters, admirers and students provide strong backing for his continued value as an educator. Some would argue that he is, after all, the same person he was before. Perhaps Mr Fong's decision to out himself has a simpler and more fundamental basis. It springs from a natural desire to be part of a society which accepts someone for what he or she is. It was a difficult decision that he made. But this does not obscure the fact that he is the only full-time teacher, as far as I am aware, who has gone public about his sexual orientation. Like it or not, fair or unfair, that has now changed the dynamics of how he will be viewed by those with whom he interacts, colleagues and parents included. Ditto, I think, for others in the profession. Because let's be honest about this: Mr Fong is not the only gay teacher in the system. His decision may not have the well-meaning effect he intended. He should have thought about how it could affect colleagues elsewhere before making his arbitrary decision. Many here remember the position espoused by former prime minister Goh Chok Tong in 2003 about the Government employing openly homosexual people, even in sensitive jobs. But in the light of Mr Fong's disclosure, it falls on his employers and, more broadly, the Education Ministry, to manage what fallout there is to come from the episode, including telling the public its stand on gay teachers in its ranks. Much as I was initially inclined to suggest to Mr Fong that it was best to have let sleeping dogs lie, his decision is generating pertinent discussion on an issue that the ministry now has little choice but to deal with. pjacob@sph.com. sg

TNP: Should they be open about it? (Sept 15)

GAY TEACHERS DIVIDED OVER ISSUE:

Should they be open about it?

Some support teacher who outed himself on blog. Others say such personal details should be kept private

GAY teachers here are split on whether they should speak publicly about their sexual orientation.

By Liew Hanqing

15 September 2007

GAY teachers here are split on whether they should speak publicly about their sexual orientation. While some support one gay teacher's decision to come out on his blog, others disagree with what he did. The latter group feels that he may have revealed too much, too soon. However, his supporters think otherwise. A 32-year-old gay former junior college (JC) teacher offered this argument: 'Heterosexual teachers are able to talk to their students about their personal lives. Many life lessons are transmitted to students through this form of bonding. 'When parents require gay teachers not to talk about their personal lives, it curtails their ability to connect with their students, and to be themselves in the classroom.' He said he made the decision to come out to his students and colleagues at the JC he used to teach at because it was a 'matter of personal integrity'. 'This is who I am - I hope coming out to them helps them become more accepting of diversity,' he said. Though he is aware of some parents' concerns over having an openly gay man teach their children, he says their worries are unfounded. 'The younger (these children) are exposed to these issues, the fewer hang-ups they may have when they grow up, and they may be more certain about who they really are,' he said. He even said he felt teachers who were open about their sexual orientation were a valuable resource. CONFUSION He said: 'If the students have no positive role models to turn to, ' they may go through a period of confusion about their sexuality. 'By placing restrictions on gay teachers, the schools are effectively reducing the support that some teenagers need.' Disagreeing, a gay teacher in his late 20s said he had reservations about coming out to his students, whom he feels are 'too young' to deal with such issues. Most of his students are 13 and 14 years old. He said: 'It's unclear whether teens at that age can actually be swayed by a person in a position of authority like a teacher, but I'd prefer not to impose my personal values or beliefs on them, while they are still relatively immature.' He added that he feels teaching is a profession which requires drawing a clear line between the personal and professional domains. 'There are still many misconceptions people have about gay people - that we are promiscuous, and that we are out to prey on children. 'Being too open at this point will only cause unnecessary anxiety within the school, and among parents.' The teacher who outed himself on his blog had earlier attended a forum to discuss the concerns of gay teenagers in the Singapore education system. Held last month, the forum drew a 110-strong crowd, including about 20 teachers. A secondary school teacher in his 30s said he was aware of the forum, but chose not to attend because he 'did not want to out (him)self.' He said: 'The school environment is not open for discussion about homosexuality, except in a derogatory manner.' He has chosen to remain closeted to both his colleagues and students,because he says he does not want to jeopardise his career. 'Some associate gay people with paedophilia and other demeaning things. If colleagues and students know about my sexuality, they will simply label me,' he said. SCHOOL CULTURE He added that the decision to come out of the closet depended, to a large extent, on the school's culture and willingness to discuss issues like sexual orientation openly. He said: 'The teacher who came out on his blog was probably able to do it because he felt confident enough in his working environment - that the school management would be understanding about it.' He added, however, that other schools - such as the co-educational school he teaches in - are much more conservative. 'Some schools just aren't ready to handle the open discussion of issues like sexuality. In such schools, there is no value in coming out - it will only create a backlash,' he said.

TNP: Blog not meant for his students (Sept 14)

Gay teacher outs himself in blog posting. Then he removes it as...

Blog not meant for his students

HIS online declaration was straightforward - 'I'm gay.'

By Liew Hanqing

14 September 2007

HIS online declaration was straightforward - 'I'm gay.' But it was no ordinary blog. It was written by a 38-year-old teacher at one of Singapore's top boys' schools. He claims it was only meant to be read by his colleagues and some friends. But somehow word spread and it got online forums buzzing. The school, however, is not over-reacting to the teacher's honest and sober admission. And this is why we are not naming him or his school. As more people learnt of it, the teacher removed the post - just two days after he wrote it on 8 Sep. In the entry, the teacher said he was inspired to come out of the closet and write openly about his sexuality after attending a forum on gay teachers and students. UNCOMFORTABLE In an e-mail statement to The New Paper, a spokesman for his school said it is 'mindful of the views of (the school's) stakeholders, especially parents who would not be comfortable with placing their children under the charge of a teacher who advocates homosexuality.' The spokesman confirmed that the school had spoken to the teacher concerned. 'In this instance, (the teacher) intended the blog to be read only by his colleagues and friends. 'He has clarified that he had no intention of advocating homosexuality to students. Thus, he did not give the link to any of his students. 'However, now that he is aware that some students have been reading his blog, he has decided to take down the blog.' The reaction of the local Internet community has been mixed. Former students and other netizens have left messages on his blog and on other websites, many in support of his decision to go public about his sexual orientation. In the original blog post, the teacher recalled having felt attracted to classmates of the same sex from the time he was in Primary 6. He wrote: 'As a teenager, I was very quick to sense society's aversion towards the 'sissies' in my classes. I worked hard to distance myself from them. 'While I was successful in modifying my outward behaviour, my sexual orientation remained unchanged. 'My denial gnawed at me, and the suppression of my true self resulted in self-destructive behavior during my overseas university years.' He 'spent more than 20 years in the professional closet', keeping his sexual orientation under wraps to all but a 'handful' of colleagues. Explaining his decision to speak openly about his sexuality, the teacher wrote: 'Being in the closet, pretending to be straight, trimming our true selves to suit the whims and expectations of others, is just like being a human bonsai tree.' He also wrote: 'I am still a teacher. 'My main purpose and joy is to teach our youngest citizens, the same ones who will be the leaders of our nation tomorrow.' NOT SEXUAL DEVIANT The teacher also said being gay did not make him a sexual deviant. 'I'm not, as some people like to label gays, a paedophile, a child molester, a pervert or sexual deviant.' While some have voiced support for the teacher's online confession, others say he should have kept the information private. A student from another school, Jasper Chen, 18, said he admired the teacher's honesty and courage. 'He risked losing his job in an attempt to transform the public's perception of gays in the teaching profession,' he said. Parents like Mrs Catherine Gasper, 48, however, were less enthusiastic about the teacher's candour. 'He should keep such things private - I don't think it's our business to know about his personal life,' said Mrs Gasper,who has a son in Primary 5. 'It (his sexual orientation) doesn't really matter, as long as he's a good teacher - but parents will likely become wary because they don't know enough about the gay community. 'There's a lack of awareness that comes from a lack of contact with (gays), so people will tend to go along with their own biases and prejudices.' Added one secondary school teacher, who declined to be named: 'In this case, the teacher is in contact with boys who are still young and impressionable. 'Their sexual preferences may still be somewhat unclear and in flux, so it's probably best that the teacher doesn't reveal too much, too soon. 'There is a line that must be drawn between a person's public and personal life.'