GAY CLASS UPROAR was the headline sprawled across The Daily Telegraph’s front page yesterday. The “uproar” referred to a planned screening of the film Gayby Baby, a documentary that follows four children with gay parents, at Burwood Girls High School. The film is directed by a former student of the school and was due to be shown as part of Wear It Purple day which is designed to provide support for LGBTI school students.
The Guardian Australia reports that the school didn’t receive a single complaint about the planned screening, and the NSW Department of Education confirmed this. So why the fervent opposition? What exactly spurred these claims of widespread ‘outrage’?
The damage, in many ways, is already done. The NSW Education minister has banned the film from being screened in school hours. Much of the commentary the issue has sparked reinforces the very narrative the film and Wear It Purple Day seek to dismantle. The message to children of gay parents and gay children is clear: you’re not ‘normal’.
A prominent News Limited commentator resorted to telling a 12 year old girl in his column that her family isn’t – and never will be – ‘normal’. With attitudes like that it certainly seems likely.
But as Senator Penny Wong writes today, it’s difficult to comprehend how staunchly-held beliefs about what is normal can be prioritised above the welfare of children and young adults.
Wear it Purple day was founded following the suicide of a young man who took his life after being publicly outed. As Senator Wong writes there is nothing trivial about promoting acceptance in schools:
“On Wear it Purple day young people wear coloured clothing to show support for their LGBTI schoolmates, promote tolerance and understanding, and raise awareness of the tragic consequences of bullying.
The need for the Wear it Purple initiative couldn’t be greater. Many schools remain confronting places for young people – especially students who are “different”. A recent Australian survey of LGBTI young people showed that 64% of young people had been verbally abused, 18% had been physically abused and 16% had attempted suicide. Behind these statistics are stories of deep personal hurt. The young people and the teachers who work to reduce harm in our schools deserve support, not condemnation.”
The silver lining to this ghastly episode, just two weeks after confirmation action on same sex marriage is likely to elude Australians for several more years, came from the students of the school itself.
The prefects from Burwood Girls High School posted a statement on the school’s Facebook page that makes it clear, the disregard and fear some established leaders have for diversity, acceptance and tolerance is not shared by future leaders. They wrote:
“The Prefects of BGHS wish to express their disappointment at the media coverage of the school’s intended showing of the documentary Gayby Baby.
As Burwood girls, we pride ourselves on our support of diversity – in whatever form it takes.
Throughout the year we partake in multiple events which aim to support and celebrate the diversity of our school community as a collective.
These include International Day- which celebrates our multicultural community- this year raising $15,000 for international charities, an annual Iftar dinner to support out Islamic community, and Lunar New Year celebrations to support our Asian community, amongst a range of others.
We consider ourselves leaders in the push for equality and acceptance – for all people.
When it is considered that the LGBTIQ community has the highest rates of suicide of any population in Australia and experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues, we consider our support to be just one small step in creating better understanding in the community.
We are a proud school.
We are proud of our culture.
And we are proud of the leadership our school shows in supporting all views and the right for all people to be accepted.”
As disheartening and disgraceful as yesterday’s coverage of this social issue was, there is hope. The respect, compassion and leadership in the words are cause for optimism.
But there’s no denying it’s a sad and sorry state of affairs when high school students can so readily show up politicians, commentators and newspapers when it comes to leadership and dignity.