Gay teachers banned from International Christian School in Sha Tin
'Morality job contract' draws criticism, including from Anglican Church, for discriminatory stance
A Christian school has imposed a ban on gay teachers under a controversial "morality contract", drawing criticism from activists and from a senior Anglican churchman.
The International Christian School in Sha Tin, which has about 1,200 pupils, requires existing staff and job applicants to sign a contract that makes having a gay relationship or living with someone of the same sex outside marriage a sackable offence.
The school says it wants to employ "good Christian role models for our students".
Gay groups have criticised the rules, while the Equal Opportunities Commission says it wants local laws expanded to cover discrimination on the grounds of sexuality.
The Reverend Peter Douglas Koon, provincial secretary general for the Anglican Church in Hong Kong, said: "We don't support this policy because it is discrimination. Our Anglican schools [in Hong Kong] would not apply the same rules.
"You cannot assume gay people will promote homosexuality [to pupils]. A teacher should be judged on their professionalism. There are doctors and lawyers and people in many professions who are openly gay. If a judge is gay, we cannot say they would not be a good judge."