Sunday September 16, 2012

Psychologists slam guidelines to track LGBT symptoms as being harmful

PETALING JAYA: The so-called guidelines to help parents and teachers track lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) symptoms in their childen have sterotyped the group, experts and psychologists here said.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Sim Joo Seng said the sexuality of a person may not be established until late puberty.

“Giving guidelines to teachers who are untrained to do so is a dangerous move.

“Even trained psychologists and adolescent psychiatrists have to assess properly when dealing with sexual problems,” he said, commenting on the guidelines that were distributed at a parental seminar in Penang on Thursday.

The guidelines, among others, cautioned parents about their sons wearing tight V-neck shirts and bright coloured attire and their daughters being frequently seen in the company of certain girls while ignoring others.

Dr Sim said the guidelines stereotyped the LGBT community and could lead to bigger problems such as discrimination and intimidation.

Clinical psychologist Sylvester Lim likened the guidelines to “a ridiculous attempt” to describe the LGBT community without any supporting research.

The Congress of Teaching Services in National Education (Kongres), however, has come out in support of the guidelines as “these help teachers to solve problems of youths with LGBT tendencies”.

Congress president Jemale Paiman said: “LGBT is not suitable for our Malaysian culture and we want to help those who have this problem.”

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