Voters reject LGBTIQ+ discrimination in faith schools
Call for mainland states to adopt Tasmanian model allowing no LGBTIQ+ discrimination in faith schools
National LGBTIQ+ advocacy group, just.equal, says voters overwhelmingly oppose faith schools having the special right to sack LGBTIQ+ teachers.
“The YouGov Galaxy poll we commissioned three years ago found there is nationwide disapproval of this discrimination,” Mr Croome said.
In April 2018, a YouGov Galaxy poll of 1,015 survey responses nationwide found that 79 per cent of voters said gay and lesbian teachers at religious schools should not be dismissed if they marry a same-sex partner.
78 per cent of voters said religious schools should not be entitled to receive taxpayer funding from the federal government if they discriminate against gay, lesbian and transgender teachers and students.
Mr Croome said the poll results add to the call for state and federal governments to outlaw discrimination by faith-bases schools against LGBTIQ+ teachers and students.
“We now have the unacceptable situation whereby it’s legal for LGBTIQ+ partner to marry under federal law, but be sacked the next day because of various state laws,” Mr Croome said.
Just.equal has called for a uniform national approach to non-discrimination and says the Tasmanian model is the “gold standard”.
“Tasmania outlawed all discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people by faith-based organisations 21 years ago. All faith-based schools, hospitals, universities, charities, accommodation services and age care facilities are prohibited from discriminating against LGBTIQ+ staff, students and clients.
“In more than two decades, not one religious organisation in Tasmania has claimed that the law has impinged on their religious tenets or undermined their values,” Mr Croome said.
The YouGov Galaxy poll also found that 82 per cent of voters oppose LGBTIQ+ students being expelled from religious schools.
Prior to the last federal election Scott Morrison said he would outlaw discrimination against LGBTIQ+ students in faith schools. However, that is still to happen.
“The Australian public want discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people by religious orgainsations to be prohobited like all other discrimination", Mr Croome said.
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