By Greta Pena, President of 100% Diversity and Rights. The directives issued by the Archbishop of La Plata, Héctor Aguer, prohibiting Catholic schools in that city from referencing “gender theory” and the texts that support it, not only violate the rights of children—especially LGBTQ+ children—and expose them to greater violence, but also blatantly undermine the rule of law. His directives for Catholic schools in La Plata violate the Comprehensive Sex Education Law and the right to education. It is inconceivable under any circumstances that a religious institution can prohibit children and adolescents from accessing information, even if the schools adhere to or profess its faith. The mere self-proclaimed power to “prohibit,” as stated in the Catholic decree, is sufficient evidence that we are facing an attempt at censorship and discrimination . The laws and theoretical content vetoed by Aguer are reflective texts and Critics should base their arguments primarily on rational reasoning, not on concepts rooted in prejudice, hatred, and lies. The Monsignor and the institution he represents lack any legitimacy to provide sex and relationship education, given their brutal and persistent attacks on the right to free sexual orientation and gender identity, while maintaining a strategic and unacceptable silence regarding the sexual abuse perpetrated by their priests. Furthermore, he fails to recognize that gender theory does not seek to "erase the difference" between the sexes, but rather to contribute to eradicating the injustice between men and women, trans and intersex people imposed by the hierarchical ranking of sexual and gender identities based on "divine essences" and devoid of any reasoned discussion.

"Aguer's actions also come amid a regional and national offensive by religious fundamentalism."

It is also alarming that just days after a judge in Brazil arbitrarily authorized the sinister "conversion therapies" by psychologists, Aguer is imposing that in the field of sex education, children and adolescents are warned about "errors and disordered behaviors," exposing them to greater harassment and even torture. Aguer's inexhaustible insistence seems to normalize the violence to which he subjects us; But when their words and purported regulations generate stigma, especially in a context where children are exposed to countless forms of violence because of their sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, the gravity of the situation becomes undeniable. The bullying, sexual abuse, exclusion, and online violence suffered by LGBT children result in higher absenteeism, poor academic performance, and a lack of a sense of belonging to school, as demonstrated by... National School Climate Survey. In early 2017, together with the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Mario Poli, he attacked the Scouts Association of Argentina for including family diversity in its educational project.  The threat, expressed with the subtle metaphor of the “rope that broke,” was yet another sign of the growing distance between the Catholic hierarchy and its followers, particularly the youth. Their hate-filled diatribes and apologetics for violence have been tolerated by the provincial authorities and media for far too long. Aguer's measures also come amid a regional and national offensive by religious fundamentalism. The Supreme Court of Justice is about to issue a ruling on the discriminatory Catholic religious education law in Salta, and this year the executive branch sent a religious education bill that, among other injustices, would endorse “conscientious objection,” effectively permitting discrimination against women and LGBTI people, especially children and adolescents. That is why Congress must give urgent consideration and approval to the long-delayed Anti-Discrimination Law. that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as discriminatory pretexts and focuses on education to promote respect for the human rights of all people. Likewise, we believe that the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation should consider religious (Catholic) teaching in Salta unconstitutional. We also invite the Catholic community to repudiate Aguer's words.]]>