LGBTQ+ Organisations Divided On Bill To End Discrimination In Religious Schools

On Monday 12 October, independent MP Allegra Spender launched a bill to end legal discrimination in religious schools, to mixed reviews from LGBTQ+ rights activists.

While the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work Amendment (Equality in Treatment in Religious Schools) Bill would remove anti-discrimination exemptions that currently allow faith-based educational institutions to treat LGBTQ+ students and staff differently (for example, firing teachers or expelling students on the basis of their sexuality), for some, its focus is too narrow.

Just.Equal Australia Says Spender’s Bill Is “Too Narrow”

Among the bill’s critics are the national LGBTQ+ advocacy group Just.Equal Australia. Despite welcoming the bill’s introduction to the Lower House, the group says it does not address the full extent of special religious exceptions harming LGBTQ+ people.

“[The bill] does not address the same discrimination occurring in faith-based hospitals, age care homes, employment agencies, disability and other services contracted by the commonwealth,” said Just.Equal spokesperson Brian Greig.

“This Bill will not be supported by the government, so it won’t be debated or voted on. However, it serves as a positive form of ‘legislative activism’ to raise the issues, hold an inquiry, seek public submissions, and press the major parties on policy.”

Accordingly, Just.Equal has called on Spender to expand the scope of her Bill.

“The archaic religious exemptions that allow LGBTIQA+ people to be excluded, disadvantaged and stigmatised in commonwealth-funded services is much wider than mere schools. We must stop ignoring this and shift the debate back to the full picture.”

“Let’s take this opportunity to expose the full scope of harm being caused by special religious exemptions from the law, and not just within schools.”

Equality Australia Backs Spender’s Bill

Meanwhile, Equality Australia were more hopeful of the bill’s prospects, welcoming its singular focus on ending legal discrimination in religious schools. 

“With the support of the Greens, there is a clear path through parliament to pass this bill,” said Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown. “The question is whether the government is serious about honouring the commitment it made to our community and women’s groups all those years ago.

“A gay student should not have to hide who they are to have a shot at leadership or live in fear of being expelled, and no woman should ever risk losing her job because she falls pregnant outside marriage.

“These are basic questions of fairness, and it is unacceptable that in Australia today people are still left without protections against this kind of discrimination. We urge the federal government and all federal MPs to seize this opportunity and finally deliver these long-overdue reforms.”

Another proponent speaking on behalf of Equality Australia was James Elliot-Watson, a former student of a Christian school in Sydney.

“I was just a teenager when my school told me I couldn’t become a prefect because I came out as gay, told me not to tell other people, and referred me to counselling to change my sexuality,” said Elliot-Watson.

“My school treated me as less worthy of opportunities, acceptance and patience simply because of who I am, my humanity. No young person should have to experience that. We’ve had years of broken promises that the laws will change, but right now we’re leaving kids across the country at risk of the same treatment that I faced.

“I’ll say what I said two years ago: it’s time for the government to do their job and protect vulnerable kids from being discriminated against by their own schools.”