Andrea Simone alleges that her score in the competition for a permanent non-teaching assistant position was lowered because she is a lesbian. The Moreno School Board denies everything. The complaint for discrimination based on sexual orientation has already been filed with INADI (National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism). Photos:   One Hundred Percent Diversity. Andrea Simone is 44 years old and has worked as a custodian in schools in Moreno, Buenos Aires province, for more than three years. Yesterday, she filed a complaint with INADI, alleging that her score in the competition for a permanent non-teaching assistant position was lowered because she is a lesbian. In her complaint, she stated that she was told: “We have a transparent policy and we are not going to allow any gay or lesbian person to take a position, because we are not going to expose ourselves to the possibility of sexual abuse of children.” The Moreno School Board denied Simone's complaint.

"We don't want gays or lesbians in the system"

In early February, Andrea went to the Moreno School Board to confirm that her name was on the list of applicants for permanent positions. She remembers arriving calm. She had 74.30: the score needed to get the position she wanted: non-teaching assistant/custodian. “When I went in, I met with the board president, Mónica Berzoni (Cambiemos), accompanied by board member Sergio Pazos (Frente Renovador). They asked me what percentage I had. I told them, and they denied it. They checked on the computer and told me I had 44.15,” Andrea told Presentes. “This is the elevator effect: what goes up must come down,” she says Berzoni argued. And Pazos added: “We don’t want gays or lesbians in the system because we’re not going to expose ourselves to sexual abuse of children.”

What does the Moreno School Board say?

Presentes contacted the president of the Moreno School Board: “It’s completely false, I don’t know that person. I’ve never seen her in my life. The only thing they’re trying to do is create a media frenzy,” said Mónica Berzoni. She indicated that she had not yet been notified by INADI (National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism). She anticipated that if they do, she will appear with a lawyer “with all the evidence.” Berzoni says that the person in charge of the documentation for the scoring is a board member, and that for the scoring, the original course records, background information, and diplomas must be submitted.   “It is unacceptable that the presidency of the Moreno School Board is held by an official who obstructs access to rights. In this case, the right to work is based on prejudice and not on the current legal framework, and on building an egalitarian society, free from violence and exclusion,” said Martín Cannevaro, secretary of 100% Diversity and Rights. He reported that they have already requested that INADI (National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism) summon the officials for a conciliation hearing. [READ MORE: "I want it recognized that my dismissal was due to discrimination"] Simone has been married since 2012 under the equal marriage law. She lives with her partner and their 15-year-old daughter. “I love working with children. It’s magical. It gives me so much satisfaction to give them breakfast, clean the classrooms. I always go out of my way to make sure they’re okay,” she said. Andrea registered with the Buenos Aires education system in 1999 to become a non-teaching assistant. She only started working as a substitute in 2012. The score obtained is based on experience and performance. With a score of 44 points, she cannot obtain a permanent position. “Today I’m outside the system,” she said.

Complaint to INADI and demonstration

Yesterday, a group of non-teaching support staff, representatives from 100% Diversity and Rights—who accompanied her to file the complaint at the local INADI (National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism) office—and from UPCN (Union of Civil Servants of the Nation), demonstrated in front of the School Board headquarters located at Victoria 60, in Moreno. They are demanding that the discriminatory decision be reversed and that Andrea be incorporated into the system that will allow her to access a permanent position. Follow Presentes:  ]]>