Cleveland mayor denounces new Catholic LGBTQ guidance for schools

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb (D) denounced new LGBTQ guidance that was implemented by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland for its schools. 

The diocese put out new policies for its 84 private religious schools that ban LGBTQ expression, restrict certain clothing and ban the use of pronouns or bathrooms that don’t match a student’s sex on official paperwork, according to local outlet News 5 Cleveland. 

“As a Christian, the new Catholic Diocese of Cleveland anti-LGBTQ+ policy is a shocking betrayal of the Church teachings that have shaped who I am today,” Bibb said in an Instagram post. 

“For me, faith is about universal love and acceptance. Instead, the new policy forces LGBTQ+ kids to hide their authentic selves and attend school in fear of persecution for who they are,” he added. “I extend my heartfelt solidarity to our LGBTQ+ friends and students. Rest assured that this policy, along with any expressions of hatred, doesn’t go unnoticed.”

The church has said the changes in policy stemmed from “societal trends” and were requested by church and school leadership.

“The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland has taken existing guidance and practice in matters of sex, sexuality, and gender identity and developed them into a formal policy, rooted in scripture and Church teaching, to help ensure that these matters are addressed in a consistent, pastorally sound, and authentically Catholic manner across our diocesan and parish institutions and schools,” the diocese said in a statement. 

The statement continues to emphasize that these changes to the schools don’t change that “each and every person is welcome and invited to be a part of the Church.”

“Each one of us brings our own struggles and questions, and the Church, like Christ, meets each one of us where we are,” the statement reads. “It is our hope that this policy, in tandem with the pastoral and theological resources found on the diocese’s website, helps each person to live more fully in the truth of their identity as a son or daughter of God who is made, body and soul, in His image.”

These policies are not uncommon in religious private schools but have caused much controversy between Republican and Democratic states.

Republican-led states have moved to implement laws in public schools that don’t allow students to use the bathroom or pronouns they choose. In California, the state is currently suing a conservative school board for implementing a policy that requires educators to tell parents if their child wants to use different pronouns.