Private school opens gates to LGBTQ Foundation
(CNS): One of very few private schools in the Cayman Islands that is not affiliated to any church, the Cayman International School, invited the Cayman LGBTQ Foundation to its recent Back to School BBQ and Information Bonanza and gave the non-profit organisation a booth where young people could get information on how it can assist them.
President and Founder Noel Cayasso-Smith said it was important for young people to know that the foundation is there for them if they need help. Cayasso-Smith said he was grateful to the school for its support and recognition that young people needed support in LGBTQ matters.
“Discrimination and stigma is incredibly hurtful at any age but it cuts far more deeply with young people who are in the process of understanding who they are without the emotional maturity of an adult that is necessary to deal with that process,” he said. “As a Foundation, we are committed to ensuring that any young person who needs our help can reach out to us.”
He added, “The staff at CIS have shown great sensitivity and empathy for their students in inviting us into the school and it gives us hope that more educators will show the same understanding in the future.”
The LGBTQ education advocate said young people are particularly vulnerable to discrimination. “We want them to know we are here for them, whenever they may need us.” Cayasso-Smith added that he was heartened to find parents also reaching out to the Foundation in a bid to find out what more they could do to support their young people.
“The mission of the LGBTQ Foundation is to help people of all genders in the Cayman community by a process of education, so we were particularly pleased to work with these supportive parents,” he added.
Cayman International School Director Jim Urquhart said the Cayman LGBTQ Foundation’s message of achieving equality is great for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Cayman Islands and beyond.
“This message certainly also speaks to our school’s community principles of kindness, partnership, sustainability and good intent. We look forward to an ongoing partnership in support and understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice,” he added.
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i was raised with Christian values and practice following Christ in my daily living. i haven’t ever told anyone that they have to accept Christ. that they should yes, but not that they must. but boy! you want to hear hate speech???? day you’re a Christian or mention Christ and BOOM!!!! BIGOTRY AND HATE SPEECH LIKE YOU CAN’T IMAGINE…Like it is on here (whole pretending that they’re not bigots).
Various Christians use their beliefs to justify hatred and judgement, contradicting their own belief system. The LGBTQ+ community experience incomparable bigotry and hate speech from those of religious backgrounds compared to Christians. The “bigotry and hate speech” you hear about Christians are people relaying their poor experiences with fellow Christians or growing up within the church.
If you have statistics to prove your statement, be my guest, but there is a big gap in logic here.
Say it louder for the people in the back!!!
Despite numerous “claims” to the contrary by posters, I don’t know that the church-run private schools indoctrinate their students with religion more than any other school. To be more specific, I can only speak about Cayman Prep.
I attended Cayman Prep in the Sixties and two of my children attended Cayman Prep & High in the early 2000s and we are by no means “religiously indoctrinated”, nor are we bigoted in any way towards anyone. Neither are we “overly religious” Bible thumpers (actually, I wish they would attend church more often).
Like myself, my children were raised with Christian values like personal integrity, acceptance, being kind and respectful – among others. Today they are both well-adjusted professionals contributing to our society. I’m rather proud of my children and Cayman Prep only enhanced their education – not for one moment did it warp them in any way.
Can’t speak about other church schools but I would suggest that the generalization that church schools “indoctrinate” students is BS!! However, I would rather have children of the kind who attend most church schools than a child like the one reported in another trending CNS article – the public (Government) school student who (allegedly) assaulted officials on a school bus, supported by the parent!
Face the facts – Parents are by far the greatest influence or “indoctrination” to kids – not the schools!!
I don’t think they are saying the school themselves indoctrinate the students, it’s more of an acknowledgment that no other school would be able to do this due to their ties to churches here and abroad. Like it or not, those churches often have a big say at these schools. I can tell you right now that would never be allowed at Prep, and I also attended Prep from KG to A-Levels and think it’s a great school.
I send my daughter to CIS.
It costs a lot more than anywhere else, but it’s worth it to protect her from the bigotry, hatred and intolerance which is rampant among all the churches.
I went to Prep and I was NEVER taught bigotry, racism, discrimination, or any other negative vitriol. Just because you go to a Christian school, or a raised in a religious household, does not make you any of those things. I have been raised to respect and love everyone, which I do, even if I don’t agree with something that someone does, says, believes, etc.
None of us are perfect, and we all have our individual lives to live. It is just a matter of respecting that we all come from different walks of life, and we all have different paths to lead.
4:43, I don’t agree with your perspective on Cayman Prep.
One day in 2014 I picked my son up from Cayman Prep after school. He was in grade 8 at that time. He asked me about gay people. I asked why he was asking me that question. He said that Cayman Prep had a speaker at their assembly from America who said that gay people were bad and he said he thought one of his friends was gay. He was clearly confused with mixed emotions.
My answer was that one needs to respect everyone no matter what their race, body shape or whether they are gay or not. Always remember, respect everyone I told him. Think he grasped my message.
I later confirmed with some other parents that the assembly did occur and the speaker from America did say such a thing. Very sad.
4:43, My most unforgettable Cayman Prep story was in 2012. We had been trying to get my son interested in reading in the years before we came to Cayman from London. When he was 10 the school he was at in London finally got him interested in reading. We were so happy. What got him interested in reading were Harry Potter books. He could relate to the characters and situations and he read the books without any urging from his parents.
In his first day at school at Cayman Prep the English teacher asked the students what they liked to read. My son put up his hand and said “Harry Potter”. The teachers response was we don’t read Harry Potter in this school because “it is the work of the devil”. I was shocked when my son told me this but I did check with the school and learned that there were no Harry Potter books in the library.
The most widely read children’s books in the world, translated into 50 languages and they were not read at Prep.
I hope Prep has moved forward and has Harry Potter in their library today.
Perhaps somebody can tell me if Prep has moved forward.
Do they have Harry Potter books in their library today?
Some of the comments on this thread are disgraceful. It’s always, from my observation of likes vs dislikes on comments in CNS articles, the gay articles which surprise me… always more dislikes against fair valid comments advocating equal rights for gay people. It’s not as if being gay is a choice… can some one tell me the difference between LGBTQ coming into a school
Vs someone promoting equal opportunities for men and women, or Asians blacks and white people? It’s just supporting a section of society who may in this country currently feel alone or lacking in support. Why would people criticise that?
Because they are ingnorant?
Or simply they don’t wish others well. No real valid reason, just because. Bad minded.
Ignorance is not always an excuse.
It is not just the CNS commentators. It appears that the whole world is going stark raving mad. Look at the threats made to Roe v Wade in Texas and other US states, the discriminatory changes to voting legislation which is intended to disenfranchise minorities, and then there is Afghanistan and other countries human rights issues. It is just disheartening to see how human thinking has devolved so dramatically.
All good and fine to see this. But can I ask 2 questions?
1. Whatever happened to the Cayman Aids Foundation?
2. Has the Cayman LGBTQ Foundation, reached out to the wider Caymanian gay individuals, to see if they are in need of assistance during this Covid-19 pandemic?
Thank you a concerned gay Caymanian.
Have you reached out to them?
That is why I sent my kid to CIS. Freedom from religion and its “morals” that vary depending which church, synagogue, mosque… you attend.
Well done.
Total BS more like that one is the one that had space and you can afford it. At least the kids get ‘dump fire’ days.
You say they had a space? I don’t have kids but thought CIS has by far the biggest waiting list? I’d Take a dump fire over homophobia and religion in schools always… hope I have kids one day and can send them to CIS.
And where are gays being harmed or tortured or harassed on this island? Do we have yearly police reports of this? You are deluded by foreign lgbt garbage!
Errr you’re not aware of the casual homophobia that’s accepted here?
You think every gay person that gets harassed makes a report?
Did you see the amounts of undisguised harrassment, bigotry and actual hate posted on social media on the Pride day? Any time an article about LGBTQ related topic comes around we have to go through the same stuff over and over again. Not to mention we do not have the same rights as heterosexual, or percieved so, people and couples do. For years we have been deprived of equality ON PURPOSE out of the lack of good will and up to this very day we have to wait for the Privy Council to speak. What would it take for you and many others to understand that simple truth? Wake the heck up. Be thankful you don’t need counseling and support on that matter. Move on.
That we even have comments like this is pure evidence of how far we still need to go.
By far the biggest waiting list🤣🤣🤣🤣. Not even close.
So if you’re not into chocolate that makes you chocolatphobic?
No, but if you have certain behavior and attitudes towards people who are into chocolate and deprive them from the same rights and dignity that you enjoy, then it’s a whole different story. Dislike chocolate all you may want, noone is forcing you to like it. Or eat it. Just be respectful and mindful of likes of others.
Next….
You don’t have to be dismissive of the question with your “Next” comment. It was a legitimate question aimed at the loose use of homophobia, etc. Everything and everyone who doesn’t agree with the latest woke ideology is somehow phobic. Your answer by the way, aside from the “Next” comment is well-phrased and thought out – I believe in everything you included in your answer. I disagree however with people trying to shut down debate by labeling others for questioning things.
Having a “debate” show how far we must yet go.
I can’t speak for every gay Caymanian here, but the goal for me is that there is no longer a “debate”.
I understand that there will always be an “outside the norm” for Caymanians who are gay or display characteristics that are outside the norm for what is considered typical for a man or woman, but the intermediate goal is that this becomes a curiosity rather than a point of focus for a cultural imbroglio.
Questioning in good faith is not only more than fine, but wonderful. It is an sign of acceptance. The issues raised here is that what is labelled as “questioning” is more often than not an underhanded method of undermining queer culture. Sealioning not because queer culture is odd, but as a means of denigrating queer culture because of its oddity and, by extension, encouraging hostility to queer culture.
18 is not a kid, its a fully grown adult who should be out in the world earning a living
Or sitting at home claiming the stipend
Unvaccinated.
18 years old is not the same as 22 years old. Nice try tho!
Such a great thing to see. Whenever our children who have no support at home with who they are it’s great that can know it will get better and most others will support them.
I find it odd that people who are against your kids having access to a healthy place to ask questions are perceived as a bad for them but then when kids make videos about their favorite sexual position it’s just normal kid behavior.
Excellent decision CIS. Cayman LGBT Foundation goes from strength to strength. Proud of you both. Obviously, my family’s decision to remove my niece from a religious school and send her to CIS was a very good one!
Kudos to you CIS!
Neat.
lol smh … and what about Religiophobia? An irrational or obsessive fear or anxiety of religion, religious faith, religious people or religious organisations. Yes, folks, a real thing. They are scared of religious morality as well. First group to run to the police to prosecute others for “hate speech.” Now bring their LGBT ideology in our schools. Question – Will this noble school provide pastoral counseling for children that are “discriminated” because they are Christian ???! Let us see if they will do that. Let us see how they EQUALLY balance the “rights” of all. Or, does this just prove the hypocrisy of the LGBT claim that they are for the welfare of all children? What about a child’s right to a mom and dad??? Hmmm.. let’s see how far they support the natural family structure. They are so much into the conservation of parrots, mangroves, and iguanas – what about the human family???
Been a while since I read this much dross by a poster on CNS. Well done CIS for supporting Adam and Steve and Niamh and Eve. Pastoral counselling? Do me a favour mate.
The thing is… you have no answers for the above comment. But to call it a dross?
How can you provide an answer to a load of incoherent rambling?
I’ll try.
It seems religiophobia is an organized group of people that constantly make police reports. This can be proven by a simple FOI request, I’d assume, since it’s so real and common.
LGBT ideology. Hmmm nope, LGBT are just regular people, some are even religious.
Children are not Christian by nature. They’re taught and indoctrinated it. Though, it’d be great if adults could just leave kids alone to make up their own minds. So, I doubt these Christian kids are being discriminated against, on account of their forgiving, generous and empathetic nature.
Children have a right to a mom and dad apparently. Please let the guardians, single parents be made aware, so they can enforce this.
Also, people can only support animal and green rights exclusively. They cannot also support other causes.
Yeah. It’s dross. Complete dross.
Completely agree. After watching the Oscar winning Spotlight, and that we know for a fact that so many of the churches worldwide have endemic child sexual abuse historically, I would never send my kids to a religious institution. Just yesterday the Uk child abuse inquiry exposed numerous religious institutions as hiding mass child abuse.
Religiophobia is a group .. lol .. oh please! And then you say, we must “leave kids alone to make up their own minds” .. O boy where do I start? Sooo then your not a parent?! Because children need guidance, and that is left to patents – but a like you lgbt folk want to take that important role from parents !
ha ha .. i love it 🙂
Religiophobia? Maaaan, Christians really wanna be oppressed huh? No one is scared of religious morality, they just don’t want YOUR beliefs to govern THEIR lives. And as someone who grew up in Cayman, went to both private and public schools, and still lives there, I can tell you the people trying to force their “ideaology” on anyone are Christians. No child is getting bullied because they’re praying in the morning in this country, so at least make your whataboutism make some sense.
A child doesn’t “have a right to a mom and dad”. A child has the right to be safe and secure and loved, regardless of the gender, sexual orientation or number of people providing that.
There is no “natural family structure”. Throughout history the family dynamic has been changed a number of different times. But then, I don’t see you crusading against single mothers/fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, calling for the close down of the boys’/girls’ homes, or anything else that doesn’t subscribe to your “mom and a dad” clause.
At least have the decency to say what you’re dogwhistling out loud. “I don’t like gay people and I want them to go away”.
What on earth is ‘religious morality’? You mean hypocrisy and homophobia, where pretty much everything goes as long as someone not gay? Right.
Did you see the amount of hate hundreds of you put in comments on social media when Pride was taking place? It made me cringe as an adult. I imagine someone who is less used to it and more vulnerable.
This is exactly why this type of support is needed : it can potentially save someone.
Save them? From what?
CNS: From depression and self-harm due to social stigma and often bullying.
My child attended CIS for 13 years. I never detected any agenda or bias towards any particular belief system – it was always about the children and ensuring they had exposure to different points of view and were counseled against bias against any particular. Elide system. So the simple answer to your quest is yes, a student with string religious views would be protected against bias or discrimination by others. But I am guessbu you are not seeking a broad based acceptance of different beliefs as much as a string defence of yours to the exclusion of others.
CIS is the future. CIG is the past. They will not get along.
“that is not affiliated to any church” I’m curious, if they were affiliated to some church would it prohibit them from making such a decision?
Actually, yes. If you pay to send your child to a Christian school, this type of thing would not be acceptable. However, you do have the choice to send your child to a secular school.
What if you can’t afford a secular school? How does it work in government schools where school counselors also work as pastors? If a student goes to one of the counselors with questions about their sexuality, what is done? What prevails, the Christian view or the ethics of the counselor.
I think these are issues and that there should be a policy in place.
We know what happens. There is an exorcism.
Total BS, there were at least two gay teachers in my Catholic school.
There were a good few at CIHS back in the day.
Kudos to CIS. This is so needed in all the schools.
Why is this needed in all the schools?
Because there are gay children in all the schools, and they need to be able to access support.
Doubt they are going to strangers for help, family and friends first. Totally unnecessary for this, they are looking for their 15 minutes of fame.
CNS: If friends and family are the problem, then yes they need the help and support of strangers. For example, I doubt that any young person in your family who is gay would go to you for advice. Would you accuse any other group of people offering help to young people of “looking for their 15 minutes of fame”? Why do you think people call help hotlines?
10:25, Very simple really. On a small island like Grand Cayman we need to learn to RESPECT everyone no matter what their race, ethnic background, body shape or sexual preference.
No its not. Let children be children and go to school to learn, not have romantic relationships.
Excellent! Proud of CIS. I hope this helps to send a message to all LGBTQ school-aged children in Cayman that they are supported.
I love this! Well done CIS and well done Cayman LGBTQ Foundation!
In the schools… Really????!!!
Yes in the schools. Because it sounds like at home it might not be acceptable to be who you actually are. So the school needs to be supportive of their students so they feel comfortable at least part of the time.
I hope if you have children they aren’t gay, because you don’t sound very supportive.
This should not be in the schools.
For what reason?
10:26 thinks if you tell children about homosexuality and say it’s normal and doesn’t warrant discrimination or shame, kids will magically become gay. Whereas telling them it’s shameful and a sin will stop them from “becoming” or choosing to be gay. LOL. But their self awareness is such that they realize if they actually said that, rather than the dog whistle “ not in the schools” comment, they would get laughed at. Either that or they just think that sexuality shouldn’t be discussed at school
Indeed. Don’t be gay, that’s terrible.
Also, let’s have more ignorance leading to teenage pregnancies, too!
What a horrible comment. Isn’t it good for kids to be supported as they find their sexuality?
They do no need to “find their sexuality” nor do they need to be influenced at such a young age by these bunch. They are kids, allow them to be that and come into their own.
I thought CIS had kids up to age 18? Seems very approproate to support LGBTQ teenagers, no?
Can we hear what the lgbtq foundations message to the children was ?
Please can you relate what the message was as I can’t remember the Cayman LGBTQ Foundation sending any message to any kids on social media or otherwise
Well said!
Well done CIS