Parents at an Adelaide school have announced they will protest an upcoming event that marks International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia.
Reynella East College is set to mark the day on Wednesday 13th May. The school caters to students from kindergarten to Year 12.
Father of two Luke Poulton shared his comments on Facebook, calling the event “woke madness” and accusing the school of being involved in pushing gender ideology. Poulton said his children would never partake in the event.
He later followed up his thoughts in an interview with the Adelaide Advertiser.
“My problem is that kindy and junior primary kids are subject to stuff that, until a later age, you shouldn’t even be thinking about or shouldn’t even be on the minds of these tiny little kids,” he said.
“I know that in this world we live in people need to be accepting of this stuff, but I don’t think at that age it is appropriate at all to even be witnessing a single thing about it,” he said.
He said the protest he will be leading would be a peaceful protest on the boundary of the school grounds.
In a letter to parents, the school said it had chosen to mark IDAHOBIT Day as part of its commitment to inclusion.
“IDAHOBIT provides an opportunity to reinforce our commitment to inclusivity and respect for all,” the letter said.
“Our aim is to foster a school environment where every student feels safe, supported, and valued.”
IDAHOBIT Day marks the anniversary of May 17, 1990, when the World Health Organization (WHO) officially removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. This milestone is seen as a step forward in reducing stigma and advancing LGBTQIA+ rights.
