A transgendered teacher in the province of Alberta has been fired by his employer (a Roman Catholic school board) because his gender change is not aligned with the teachings of the church and would create confusion and complexity with students and parents as a model and witness to Catholic faith values. The teacher, Jan Buterman, has filed a human rights complaint but you can rest assured that the school board will be asserting a freedom of religion defence. Cases like this are rare because religious organizations usually discriminate at the time of hiring.Just think about the implications of upholding the school board's decision. I could establish the Whole Person Teaching Academy based on a holy book that I draft during an acid trip. One of the founding principles of my Academy could be that amputee teachers create confusion with my students because they are, obviously, not "whole persons". If I refuse to hire an amputee teacher or fire a teacher who becomes an amputee as a result of an accident, how would that be any different than the treatment afforded to Mr. Buterman? Of course, there is no absolutely no difference.
Stupid is was stupid does and discrimination in the name of religion is STUPID.
The CBC news story describing Mr. Buterman's firing can be found here: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/01/gender-teacher-fired.html
By the way, if you haven't seen the film Transamerica (starring Felicity Huffman and Kevin Zegers), you must check it out. It is excellent.
And you find this surprising? Surely not. Just be glad that most Catholics no longer support the gathering up and burning of gays at the stake!
ReplyDeleteIf the transgendered teacher wore long white robes and groped small boys, I wonder if s/he would still have a job?