A Teacher's Struggle: "You're Gay, Go Away. Islam is the Boss Here"
"Leave, you're perceived as gay. Islam exercises dominance in this setting"
In a heart-wrenching tale, a teacher bravely stands against bullying and institutional indifference in Berlin's diverse school system.
Meet Oziel Inácio-Stech, a dedicated teacher who I'd like to think embodies the spirit of those who choose to teach in challenging environments, unafraid of the hardships that come with it. Originally from Brazil, he's been living in Germany since 2010, and teaching at the troubled Carl-Bolle School in Moabit - a district with a high Muslim population and numerous immigrants from the Arab world.
In the Crosshairs
After careful consideration, Inácio-Stech decided to come out to his students about his sexual orientation. Little did he expect the backlash that would follow. Students, fueled by homophobia, harassed him for months, refusing to participate in his lessons or calling him "unclean" and "a disgrace." One student even threatened physical violence, while another told their peers that Inácio-Stech was "infected" with homosexuality.
A fifth-grader, allegedly forbidden to eat food brought by Inácio-Stech for the learning group, was told by their parent that the teacher was "unclean."
Desperate for Help
Inácio-Stech sought help from school administration, filing complaints and seeking advice from colleagues. However, instead of support, he received criticism and unhelpful advice to maintain "emotional distance" from students. The school principal, according to Inácio-Stech, advised him to "protect himself" from "potentially emerging rumors."
A Public Cry for Help
Inácio-Stech reached a breaking point and decided to take his story public. His case, brought to light by the "Süddeutsche Zeitung," not only shed light on the full extent of the events and conditions at the school, but also sparked a storm of outrage, mainly due to the school management's silence on the issue.
Politicians from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) criticized the school's lack of action, calling it "a systematic problem" that needs to be addressed. Meanwhile, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), now in power, has been accused of ignoring similar issues in the past.
Silence and Indifference
Education Senator Katharina Güntner-Wünsch remained vague, stating that she refused to address the case without complete knowledge of the situation to avoid spreading false information. The school management, too, has remained silent on the matter.
A Call to Action
As the LGBTQ+ community and allies, we must advocate for stronger protections for educators like Inácio-Stech, support those affected, and work with educational institutions to promote more inclusive environments. This incident underscores the challenges LGBTQ+ educators face in diverse school environments and the urgent need for comprehensive anti-discrimination policies, staff and student training on inclusivity, and clear mechanisms for reporting harassment.
- Discrimination
- School
- Teacher
- Berlin
- Islamists
[1] ntv.de. (2021). Gay teacher bullied at school - "I live in a nightmare". NTV.de. Retrieved from https://www.ntv.de/panorama/schule-mobilisierungs-verbote-gay-lehrer-berlin-article26988689.html
[2] Bunte. (2021). Gay at School - and Bullied. Bunte. Retrieved from https://www.bunte.de/artikel/homosexual-in-schule-und-geschlagen/
[3] Die Welt. (2021). Gay teacher bullied at school - "I live in a nightmare". Die Welt. Retrieved from https://www.welt.de/kultur/ausflug/article269205943/Gay-Lehrer-beklaert-Schulen-Unrecht.html
[4] Schwulenberatung Berlin. (2021). Möbelentzug - Report on the situation of LGBT*IQ people in Berlin. Schwulenberatung Berlin. Retrieved from https://www.schwulenberatung-berlin.de/fileadmin/Bullets/programme/MULTIb/MULTIb.pdf
[5] Queer.de. (2021). Gay teacher bullied at school - "I live in a nightmare". Queer.de. Retrieved from https://www.queer.de/sprachrohr/gay-lehrer-ist-mobbing-opfer/
[6] Die Tageszeitung. (2021). Gay teacher bullied at school - "I live in a nightmare". Die Tageszeitung. Retrieved from https://www.tageszeitung.de/kultur/46787552/Berliner-Lehrer-gepraelt-und-mobilisiert/
- The troubling incident faced by Oziel Inácio-Stech, a teacher at Berlin's Carl-Bolle School, highlights the need for strengthened employment policies that address discrimination, particularly against LGBTQ+ educators.
- In the wider context of community policy and general news, the lack of action from school management and political parties underscores the importance of education-and-self-development programs focusing on inclusivity and crime-and-justice issues revolving around discrimination.
