Just.Equal Australia has warned that more faith-based schools will follow the lead of Brisbane's Citipointe College, and overtly discriminate against LGBTIQ+ students, if the proposed federal Religious Discrimination Bill passes.
Just.Equal says the College's “parental contract” runs contrary to Queensland anti-discrimination law, as well as state and federal anti-youth suicide prevention programs.
However, spokesperson for Just.Equal, Rodney Croome, said the federal government’s Religious Discrimination Bill's provisions allowing discrimination in the name of religion are so wide they will effectively nullify existing state protections and give faith-based schools a green light to discriminate.
“If the Religious Discrimination Bill passes, more and more faith-based schools will follow the lead of Citipointe College by overtly discriminating against LGBTIQ+ students."
"The religious exemptions in the Federal Bill are so wide they will effectively nullify existing state protections in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT and give a green light to discrimination across the nation."
"Citipointe College is a taste of what Australia will become under the Religious Discrimination Bill, and that taste is very bitter for vulnerable LGBTIQ+ students."
In 2018, a YouGov Galaxy poll found that 78% of Australians believed that religious schools should not be entitled to taxpayer funding if they discriminate against LGBTiQ+ teachers and students.
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
