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Taipei, March 8, 2010 /LGBT News - Earth Times/ Taiwan's gay rights groups on Monday welcomed the Education Ministry's decision to include gay issues in the primary and junior high school curriculum from next year. "It will give teachers the authorization to openly discuss homosexuality with students," Wang Ping, secretary-general of the Taiwan Gender/Sexuality Rights Association, said.

Currently, "some teachers are afraid of doing so due to opposition from fellow teachers or school authorities," she added.

"We hope the Education Ministry is not just making a publicity stunt, but will make sure that the policy is implemented in all schools," she said.

The Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline, or gay hotline, also welcomed the Education Ministry's announcement that it is to integrate gay questions into the school curriculum.

"The Education Ministry's decision is a positive move," and necessary to fight prejudice against homosexuality in schools, the hotline's spokeswoman Lu Hsin-chieh said. Some teachers and associations promote the idea to students that homosexuality can be cured, she added.

In 2004, parliament passed the Gender Equality Education Bill, banning discrimination against homosexuals and trans-gender students and teachers in school.

Many gay rights activists say they are still the victims of discrimination, however. Around 1,000 gathered outside the Taipei city government building on March 2 to protest the city council's decision to ban gay rights groups from primary and high schools.

Copyright DPA