Ireland Bans Discrimination Against LGBT Teachers

Supporters say this removes the ‘chill factor’ for LGBT employees of schools in Ireland, where almost all schools are religiously run.

Ireland’s Parliament has passed a bill banning religious schools from discriminating against LGBT teachers, reported Gay Star News.

With Wednesday’s passage in the House and the previous approval of the Senate, the bill is now on the desk of Ireland’s president for signing.

The bill amends Section 37 of the republic’s Employment Equality Act, which allowed schools and hospitals to “take action” to prevent employees from “undermining the religious ethos of the institution.”

The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network said this section of the law had a “chilling effect” in religious schools.

“This bill is the key piece of the legislative map that will allow LGBT people to be themselves, get married and have a family without a threat to their job if they work in a religious run institution,” said Sandra Irwin-Gowran, director of education policy at GLEN.

The bill marks another milestone for Ireland. In May, the republic became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage by public vote, and marriage equality was signed into law in October.