Jose Garcia, a 19-year-old student at Baptist School of Adult and Continuing Education in Belmopan, Belize, recently received letters from the school threatening to dismiss him is because "he acts like a girl," "dresses effeminately," "uses the female bathroom," and "carries a purse as his school bag."

Jose received a letter from the school principal asking that Jose withdraw from the school and seek counseling.

Later, he told Jose,
"You have me so embarrassed. I don't want to see you here in the compound. If you [don't] leave right now I will call the police!"

Authorities seem to be unwilling to act to protect Jose Garcia's right to education. The Public Information Officer of Belmopan, Arlette Gomez, has stated that it is their aim to ensure that Mr. Garcia's constitutional rights are not being infringed upon and that the guidelines of the Education Act and Rules are being followed.

The Minister of Education, Patrick Faber, has also stated that the school is "bound to follow the constitution, otherwise anybody can take them to court."

Nonetheless, the Minister has offered no concrete protection for Jose Garcia, stating that "it is a Baptist High School, there is not much the Ministry can do."

For more information, including protest letters to send to Belize authorities, view:
www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/article/takeaction/globalactionalerts/1032.html