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

Does Basil Zempilas support the Liberal party position on trans healthcare?

We asked and the response from his spokesperson was far from full-throated support for the policy.

Dr Anne Aly says government may look at other types of hate after antisemitism

The proposed legislation following on from the Bondi Massacre has been criticised for having too narrow a scope.

Eurovision check-in: The first songs for the 2026 competition have arrived

The first songs for the 2026 competition have arrived.

On This Gay Day | Author Yukio Mishima born in 1925

Mishima is considered one of the most important authors of Japanese literature.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Does Basil Zempilas support the Liberal party position on trans healthcare?

We asked and the response from his spokesperson was far from full-throated support for the policy.

Dr Anne Aly says government may look at other types of hate after antisemitism

The proposed legislation following on from the Bondi Massacre has been criticised for having too narrow a scope.

Eurovision check-in: The first songs for the 2026 competition have arrived

The first songs for the 2026 competition have arrived.

On This Gay Day | Author Yukio Mishima born in 1925

Mishima is considered one of the most important authors of Japanese literature.

Advocates say proposed hate speech laws exclude vulnerable communities

LGBTIQA+ and Jewish advocacy groups are calling for broader protections.

Does Basil Zempilas support the Liberal party position on trans healthcare?

We asked and the response from his spokesperson was far from full-throated support for the policy.

Dr Anne Aly says government may look at other types of hate after antisemitism

The proposed legislation following on from the Bondi Massacre has been criticised for having too narrow a scope.

Eurovision check-in: The first songs for the 2026 competition have arrived

The first songs for the 2026 competition have arrived.