Premium Content:

Advocates call for case studies of discrimination in private schools

Advocates for WA’s LGBTI community have called for more people to come forward and provide case studies of discrimination within private and religious schools.

- Advertisement -

Under Western Australian law, LGBTI teachers and staff can be sacked, students can be expelled and enrolments from same-sex families denied.

Recent high profile cases of discrimination include the removal of a seven year of girl from a church school because she has two gay dads, and the case of teacher Craig Campbell not being asked to return to teach at a Baptist college after he came out as gay.

Spokesperson for LGBTI Advocacy Group WA Brian Greig, said it was likely there were many more cases of discrimination not being reported or made public.

“We are determined to push the McGowan Government to abolish this discrimination, just as Tasmania did 20 years ago,” Greig said.

Greig said the more evidence that could be produced, the better – even through the law should stand condemned simply by ‘virtue of its repugnant nature’.

Greig and members of the community first raised this issue at the OUTinPerth public election forum this time last year, but after almost one year in office the government has shown no desire to enact reform.

“It was very disappointing to see that just five months after being elected, Labor party members and MPs did not even raise this issue in policy discussions at their 2017 State Conference.

“It’s clear that if our community wants to scrap this dreadful law, we have to put a human face to this discrimination, so we call on more people to please step forward.”

Greig is urging anyone who has experienced anti-LGBTI discrimination from a private or church school to contact the advocates with the information.

“Everyone will be treated in the strictest confidence,” he said.

Rainbow Rights WA have also expressed their concerns about the current laws, and are calling for an urgent review by the McGowan government.

If you are interested in sharing your experience, you can email LGBTI.advocates.WA@gmail.com


Support OUTinPerth

Thanks for reading OUTinPerth. We can only create LGBTIQA+ focused media with your help.

If you can help support our work, please consider assisting us through a one-off contribution to our GoFundMe campaign, or a regular contribution through our Patreon appeal.

Become a Supporter→     Make a contribution→ 

Latest

LGBTIQA+ community member Pippa joins ‘The Floor’ tonight on Channel Nine

She knows a lot about Kylie Minogue but how will Pippa go with the other topics?

Spin It: New albums from Jessie Ware, Kiiōtō & Lou Rhodes, Tiga and Joe Jackson

We check out four new albums that arrived this week from disco to jazz and electro.

Add ‘Pride in Respect’ to your podcast feed

The new limited series podcast from Living Proud is shining a light on family domestic violence and intimate partner violence.

Joel Creasey launches his new radio show on Monday

The comedian is going solo with his own show.

Newsletter

Don't miss

LGBTIQA+ community member Pippa joins ‘The Floor’ tonight on Channel Nine

She knows a lot about Kylie Minogue but how will Pippa go with the other topics?

Spin It: New albums from Jessie Ware, Kiiōtō & Lou Rhodes, Tiga and Joe Jackson

We check out four new albums that arrived this week from disco to jazz and electro.

Add ‘Pride in Respect’ to your podcast feed

The new limited series podcast from Living Proud is shining a light on family domestic violence and intimate partner violence.

Joel Creasey launches his new radio show on Monday

The comedian is going solo with his own show.

On This Gay Day | Fashion designer and mental health advocate Aurelio Costarella died

It's just one of a long list of notable events from this day in history.

LGBTIQA+ community member Pippa joins ‘The Floor’ tonight on Channel Nine

She knows a lot about Kylie Minogue but how will Pippa go with the other topics?

Spin It: New albums from Jessie Ware, Kiiōtō & Lou Rhodes, Tiga and Joe Jackson

We check out four new albums that arrived this week from disco to jazz and electro.

Add ‘Pride in Respect’ to your podcast feed

The new limited series podcast from Living Proud is shining a light on family domestic violence and intimate partner violence.