The Australian Christian Lobby have cautiously welcomed the celebrity-backed proposal for a new government funded anti-bullying program that promotes “tolerance” rather than “seeks approval of the way certain members of our society love.”
ACL Managing Director Lyle Shelton said in a press release that “right from the emergence of the so-called ‘Safe Schools’ program, opponents like ACL always said there is no excuse for bullying, full stop.”
“It was the founder of the program Roz Ward that said Safe Schools actually had nothing to do with bullying and was all about promoting gender diversity,” Mr Shelton said.
“Concerns with ‘Safe Schools’ has always centred on the gender fluid ideology it teaches children and it is great to see it being recognised that this is a problem.”
Mr Shelton also called on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and WA’s Mark McGowan to drop their support of the original program.
“The Premiers of Victoria and Western Australia and the Chief Minister of the ACT should take note of the calls for a non-ideological anti-bullying program and drop their plans to persist with ‘Safe Schools’.”
The new proposal, fronted by Troye Sivan, Joel Creasey and other Australian celebrities, was slammed by LGBTI advocates yesterday who were concerned that the concept of ‘tolerance’ was insufficient.
Broadcaster and comedian Em Rusciano, who was listed as one of the original signatories, has taken to social media to distance herself from the Change.org petition.
Journalist and former Sydney Morning Herald editor Ben Grubb, who has been working on PR for the program, penned two articles for Medium to defend the tolerance approach and issue an apology.
“I really hope that we get acceptance and approval of LGBTI people in Australia. I mean that. That is the end goal we all should aspire to, I hope. But given the current political climate and discussions had with decision-makers, it does not look like we will get that — at least not right now,” Grubb writes.
“The letter sought a framework for something that hopefully everyone can agree upon — or come close to agreeing upon. It also lays out the ability to be altered by its advisory board after consultation with community groups once society does change and accept and approve of LGBTI people — more than it does now.”
Many of the other signatories to the program, including Perth talents Troye Sivan and Joel Creasey, have yet to comment on the backlash.
OIP Staff
The guy who coordinated the Safe Schools celebrity open letter train-wreck and hooobooyyy the hole just gets deeperhttps://t.co/tqiie9e0hn
— Sally Rugg (@sallyrugg) May 2, 2017
Unacceptably naive thinking *any* LGBTI anti-bullying program would not face the same lies & distortion as the expert-reviewed #SafeSchools pic.twitter.com/tJXBMWvUEe
— Pauline Pantsdown (@PPantsdown) May 2, 2017
If you’re invested in the conversation around #SafeSchools, this thread’s a good summary and follow-up of everything that’s happened today. https://t.co/GOdL1hRUeA
— Benjamin Law (@mrbenjaminlaw) May 2, 2017
#SafeSchools tolerence based anti-bullying is not just ineffective – it increases harm pic.twitter.com/SJtEe00FAc
— Graham Brown (@DrGrahamBrown) May 2, 2017
my contribution to @smhletters today. #SafeSchools #Auspol #acceptance pic.twitter.com/7hoZPLnEjp
— [ pf ]* (@FyfePeter) May 2, 2017
