Following a major public debate in 2024 over the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ topics in schools – sparked by two opposing petitions – the Parliamentary Family Affairs Committee presented its conclusions on Tuesday morning.
The debate, which centered on whether such topics belong in the classroom, saw nearly equal support for two petitions: one calling for the exclusion of the subjects for minors, and another advocating for their inclusion, which garnered roughly 300 more signatures.
In response to the societal divide, the government tasked the committee with formulating an official stance. Presenting the conclusions, Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity Yuriko Backes stated unequivocally: “What is clear is this: LGBTQIA+ is a reality in our society, so it is also a reality in our schools.”
She affirmed the government’s position that Luxembourg must continue to integrate these topics into its educational framework. “We will not go down the path of trying to create invisibility”, Backes added.
Concurrently, her ministry is launching a one-year pilot project in collaboration with the non-profit organisation Respect.lu. The initiative, a campaign against online hate speech, will provide relevant advice and tools, and will include workshop components.
Infrastructure is the first of four areas slated for adaptation by the Ministry of Education, with the subject of school toilets being a particular point of discussion. Christian Ginter, the ministry’s infrastructure lead, stated that future school toilets will be designated with a simple ‘WC’ sign, eliminating gender-specific signage.
Clarifying this point in response to a question from Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) MP Fred Keup, Ginter explained that the entrance to the toilet area will be shared by all, “regardless of gender, age, or size”. He added that access to individual stalls, of course, remains private. Ginter also announced that urinals will be completely phased out.
The move toward unisex toilets was welcomed by Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) MP Georges Engel, who noted, “I don’t think any of us here have separate toilets for boys and girls at home.”
Adaptations will also extend to changing rooms. In new buildings, students will be able to choose between a communal changing area or a private, individual cubicle, which may include a shower, Ginter explained.
Beyond infrastructure, specific teacher training has been developed by the National Education Training Institute (IFEN). Since January 2026, 13 dedicated courses have been offered, which teachers are free to attend based on their perceived need.
Additionally, the Service for the Coordination of Pedagogical and Technological Research and Innovation (SCRIPT) has created age-appropriate educational materials. As an example, Director Luc Weis cited the project ‘CHMENKI’ (‘Chef vu mengem Kierper’ or ‘Boss of my Body’) for Cycles 2 and 3. This initiative aims to help children understand and develop awareness of their own bodies, learn about personal boundaries, and recognise their rights in an “age-appropriate and playful” manner.
For Cycle 4, the programme “Sexuelle Bildung in der Grundschule” (Sexual Education in Primary School) will be implemented.
The Centre for Psycho-social and Scholastic Support (CEPAS) has developed a new guide to promote gender diversity in schools, with the aim of normalising coexistence and establishing clear procedures and rules.
According to CEPAS Director Nathalie Keipes, the guide responds to significant demand from teachers and school administrators. It provides practical resources, including checklists of recommended and discouraged practices for direct classroom interactions with students.
Keipes elaborated that the material offers concrete guidance for several key areas: managing classroom situations and student interactions, addressing incidents of discrimination, integrating diversity topics into the curriculum, and serving as role models by treating transgender youth with respect and empathy.
Additionally, the initiative aligns with a broader effort to integrate seven societal themes across the entire school curriculum. These transversal topics – which include democratic citizenship, media education, and sexual and affective education – will be taught within the context of traditional subjects.
