A Christian school in Brisbane is facing backlash after distributing a contract for parents to sign that states a child’s enrolment could be terminated based on sexual orientation, gender identity or sexual activity.
Citipointe Christian College sent out an enrolment contract to parents last Friday, ahead of the start of the school year, noting the school “will only enrol the student on the basis of the gender that corresponds to their biological sex”.
“Whilst each student is individually valued and equally encouraged to pursue opportunities in both academic and co-curricular activities, I/we agree that, where distinctions are made between male and female (inclusive of, but not limited to, for example, uniforms, presentation, terminology, use of facilities and amenities, participation in sporting events and accommodation) such distinctions will be applied on the basis of the individual’s biological sex,” the contract states.
“The Parents acknowledge and accept that, should I/we not share the college’s commitment to fostering these fundamental doctrinal precepts, this will constitute a serious departure from the religious precepts upon which Citipointe Christian College is based and will afford Citipointe Christian College the right to exclude a student from the College who no longer adheres to the College’s doctrinal precepts including those as to biological sex …”
In an email to parents, Citipointe’s principal Pastor Brian Mulheran wrote the contract was designed to “ensure that we retain our Christian ethos, which is the foundation of what has made the College what it is today”.
The contract also puts homosexuality and bisexuality in the same category as bestiality, incest, and paedophilia, and says it is sinful and immoral.
“We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including but not limited to; adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, bisexual acts, bestiality, incest, paedophilia and pornography) is sinful and offensive to God and is destructive to human relationships and society,” it says under a section titled Declaration of Faith.
“We believe that God created human beings as male or female.
“The Bible ties gender identity to biological sex and does not make a distinction between gender and biological sex.”
Former Citipointe student Bethany Lau has created a petition demanding the contract be recalled by the school, calling it blatant transphobia and homophobia. At the time of publishing, it has received over 40,000 signatures.
“Citipointe is using their religious beliefs to openly discriminate against queer and trans students, as well as threatening to take away their education,” the petition says.
“Sign the petition to show Citipointe that we will not stand for such blatant transphobia and homophobia.”
One person who signed the petition wrote: “This contract couldn’t say it any clearer- you are not welcome. You are not our neighbour. We will not treat you as we would want to be treated.”
The contract distributed by Citipointe school comes as the federal government has proposed a religious discrimination bill that would allow religious schools to uphold their faith traditions and beliefs. The bill was introduced into the House of Representatives in November by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
At the time, Morrison said the bill, if it passes through parliament, would not allow schools to discriminate against individual students.
“Nothing in this bill allows for any form of discrimination against a student on the basis of their sexuality or gender identity. You won’t find anything of that nature in this bill. Such discrimination has no place in our education system,” Morrison said in November.
The bill is currently being reviewed by two parliamentary inquiries, including the joint committee on human rights.