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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.

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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


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