A Mandurah school has reportedly told a gay man that his daughter would be expelled if other parents at her school complained about him being gay.
The Mandurah Mail has shared the story of a Brendan, whose 7 year old daughter attends Foundation Christian College. The Mandurah Mail’s Nathan Hondros reported that the young girls father has said that the school has told him that his daughter would not have been accepted into the school if they had been aware that he was gay.
Brendan (who has asked that his last name is kept confidential) and his ex-wife were called to the school to discuss their daughters behaviour after she mentioned that he father was gay. The school has reportedly told the parents that the young girl may not mention her father’s sexuality or his partner while she was at school.
“We were asked to go into a meeting that we thought would be about her education and how she was going in class to be told that [my daughter] had mentioned I’m gay,” he said.
“I was told that they don’t promote ‘gay’ at the school and [my daughter] was unable to talk about my life between [my partner] and me and general stuff about what a kid talks about with her parents.
“She could mention my name, but she couldn’t talk about us being gay or relating to us as a couple, so pretty much to a seven-year-old, we were forced to say to [my daughter] that she wasn’t allowed to talk about Daddy or [my partner] at all.” Brendan told the Mandurah Mail.
The school’s principal allegedly said that if a another parent complained about daughter with a gay parent being in the class, she would be asked to leave the school.
The parents decided to relocate their daughter to a public school rather than have face the constant fear of expulsion.
The school’s Principal Mr Andrew Newhouse, who is a former political candidate for the Family First party, has defended the school’s policy and denied the family were driven from the school.
Mr Newhouse said the parents had not been open with the school when they enrolled their daughter.
“When the father submitted his application for enrollment, he did so with his ex-wife as part of the process,” he said in a statement provided to the Mandurah Mail.
“Knowing that the college would not endorse an application from same-sex parents, I find there is not openness from the parent’s point of view.” Mr Newhouse said.
Education Minister Peter Collier said that the Department of Education has not received any complaints relating to the matter.
“There has been no complaint made to the State Government or the Department of Education Services regarding Foundation Christian College. Without knowing the facts I cannot comment on this particular case.” Mr Collier said.
The Education Minister said any complaint would need to be investigated by the state’s Equal Opportunity Commissioner.
Conrad Liveris, who is a director at GLBTI Rights in Ageing (GRAI) – a community group that works with the conservative and religious aged-care sector on sexuality issues – has described the school as being out of line.
Writing for WA Today Mr Liveris said the school would be better off focusing on being inclusive rather than creating division.
“Having taking a narrow and intolerant view of the bible, the school is out of line. When I was taught about Christianity it was impressed upon me that the teachings of the bible promoted acceptance and that god favoured tolerance and community harmony over division.” Mr Liveris said.
OIP Staff
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So much for Christian compassion!
What is the Christian go-to argument? “Think about the children” – Where is this value in this case? Willing to kick a child out of a educational enviroment for having a gay parent…Oh my god.
stupid religious idiots
no such thins as a christian
Seriously this is Australia
Remove their tax funding immediately
What does it matter you homophobic pricks so what i i’ve got a gay daughter who’s in a relationship with a dare i say another woman of whom im dam proud and i love my grandsons and i tell you something theres as much if not more love in that home as any hetro household so stop having anal sex using your head and get with the pace of the rest the planet you and that homophobic polliticion.
Perhaps Mr Newhouse needs to be reminded that Jesus had 12 special male friends…….
In this day and age, please! !!
What id wrong with you people?
What is the world coming to? – this is a bloody disgrace and its a CHRISTIAN school – not too Christian in my book – homophobia at it’s best – jerks
Foundation christian college have same value the reach gospel and maybe the child can change they parent because they are the innoncents nothing with ythem
Your school needs to get into the real world,was wondering where to send my grandes as a gift to the parents,for their education,well now not your school,pity as they are 5 and 3.5.
The child has a mother & a father – the rest I copied & pasted ***(Mr Newhouse said the parents had not been open with the school when they enrolled their daughter.
“When the father submitted his application for enrollment, he did so with his ex-wife as part of the process,” he said in a statement provided to the Mandurah Mail.
“Knowing that the college would not endorse an application from same-sex parents, I find there is not openness from the parent’s point of view.” Mr Newhouse said.) *** The point is…..What if an Auntie Or Uncle was guy? or a family member? What then? Brand the child??!!
To be a seprated or divorced father or mother would there be the same problem then? The child has no say on what there parents do behind closed doors –
The child has a mother & father – END OF STORY – some children are raised by Grandparents, By siblings, Aunties & Uncles even Foster parent that have NO blood relationship at all and maybe they have a gay family memeber…. The list goes on how to give abuse to a child as this Mr Newhouse has clearly done.