A Brisbane private school allegedly told a gay student its policy banning same-sex partners from its June 19 Senior Formal would be “quietly changed” if he didn’t “cause too much trouble”.
The student, whose family does not want him to be named, said he had approached the prestigious Anglican Church Grammar School (‘Churchie’) to request permission to take a same-sex partner to the formal.
“[They] said to me, ‘if you start a political movement, this is going to get blown out of proportion. If you go quietly about this and if you don't cause us too much trouble, we will just quietly change the rules so they're allowed and no one gets hurt’," the Year 12 student told the Courier-Mail.
“At the start of 2006, there was no one at the school who was openly gay in Churchie, but now there are dozens.
“You could say it's the changing times but it's been brought about by the efforts of a few brave individuals.
“Generally, it’s a very accepting school. It's not like anyone has ever been persecuted for being gay. A few students will have second thoughts about going to the formal because of all this.”
However, the student has called on his fellow gay pupils and their supporters to confront the school administration when the term resumes next week.
"[Let’s] demand an end to this oppression of the only remaining minority that is still legal to oppress," he said, adding there may be a boycott of the formal unless the school changed its policy.
Headmaster Jonathan Hensman said he would consider taking the issue to the school council if any of the students approached him directly.
"We don't intend to change our practice. As well as being a social occasion, it's an education forum and to that end the school decides what is appropriate behaviour and what is not.
"Not all students take their girlfriends. Some take a female friend. It's about protocols and decorums," he said.
Parents and Friends of lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) spokesperson Shelley Argent told Evolution Online she suspected the school’s stance was motivated by concern for its image.
“Schools, especially private schools, get their money through being a little elitist and a lot of it has to do with image,” she said.
“They don’t wasn’t to address the issue of homosexuality. They know it’s there but they don’t want to deal with it.
“They need to realise that young gay people are coming out much earlier these days. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Young people have confidence in themselves. Society needs to understand it’s not a fad or phase. These kids aren’t experimenting. They know.”
Argent said most gay students stay quiet about their sexuality at high school to avoid bullying and ostracism.
“We need to encourage inclusion and openness and honesty.”
Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Susan Booth said it was unlawful for schools, whether public or private, to discriminate against gay students.
She declined to comment directly on the case as it was a “potential complaint”.
Queensland Catholic Education executive director Mike Byrne said same-sex couples would not be welcome at a Catholic school formal.
“We would not see it as appropriate for couples in a same-sex relationship to attend an event such as a school formal," he said.
Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Phillip Aspinall said the issue was best left to the school itself.
"It's a great pity if too much emphasis is being put on sexual relationships [at the formal],” Aspinall told ABC Radio.
"Most people who go to a school formal go with a friend and there is no sexual relationship involved.
"Any gay students at any school should be treated with the utmost respect."
A strange fact is, that as Gay and Lesbian issues become more widely tolerated, so the issue disappears. The fact is, that nobody seems to care anymore. Being gay is of no more importance than being, (say) a redhead. The only groups keeping controversy alive seem to be Christian organisations. Gay and Lesbian societies are vanishing in Australia. Gay kids are no longer identifying as being gay. Its like racism. I hardly ever notice if someone is dark skinned or Asian looking. It's just a person. I think we will soon be blind to sexuality issues. And it's about time.
... written by Sam Stainsby , 30 April, 2008
Better late than never, I've written up analysis of the readers' comments in the CM on this issue. I hope you find it useful or at least entertaining: "Don’t rock the boat while we stone the gays" http://sam.stainsby.id.au/blog/?p=12
Iain Clacher
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