School Principal Claims She Was Forced Out Of Job For Not Supporting Wear It Purple Day
Image: Image: Composite - Wear It Purple Day/Mount Rogers Primary School
A veteran Australian school principal claims she was forced out of her job after refusing to promote Wear It Purple Day to primary school students, a story now being used by conservative political campaigners to demand that the LGBTQIA+ awareness initiative be removed from schools.
Janelle Rowe resigned following a disciplinary dispute with ACT education officials, ending a 34-year teaching career.
According to an exclusive report published by The Courier-Mail, Rowe opposed holding Wear It Purple Day at her primary school in the ACT and proposed participating in Bullying No Way Week instead.
The principal maintained her opposition to the day was based on the day not being suited to a primary school age group.
School Principal claims Wear It Purple Day is “the wrong fit for young children”
Rowe described Wear It Purple Day as “just the wrong fit for young children in infants and primary classes,” arguing that discussions connected to sexuality and gender should be led by families.
“I believe Wear It Purple Day is not a harmless dress-up day, it requires teachers to explain what these lifestyles are about to children and I don’t feel it’s the place of schools to be talking about sexualised issues with infants and primary students,” she told The Daily Telegraph in a report republished by The Courier Mail.
“This is not a religious thing or about my thoughts for or against … it about the right time and place, and at that age – that’s not at school.”
Rowe said her concerns centred on age appropriateness, child protection and parental authority.
She alleged that after opposing the event, she was called into the Education Directorate’s head office and confronted with concerns about her workplace performance, following alleged complaints about her refusal to participate in the day.
“I’d had a great and successful career for years, good relations with staff and parents, but suddenly I was no good in the eyes of the system” she said.
The Human Rights Law Alliance, a conservative Christian legal organisation which represented Rowe pro bono, claims she was placed under supervision and directed to speak positively about Wear It Purple Day and dress for the occasion.
“Everything changed for me once I took a stand,” Rowe said.
Her lawyer, Human Rights Law Alliance managing director John Steenhof, reportedly obtained internal employment documents through Freedom of Information laws. Steenhof said the documents contained positive descriptions of Rowe’s previous work.
“Internal government employment documents, showed Mrs Rowe had been described as ‘outstanding’, ‘highly capable’, and ‘the best leader I have ever worked in my 40-year career.”
She eventually resigned from her position.
“I would argue it was never about underperformance,” Mr Steenhof said.
The allegations have not been independently tested as yet, and the precise reasons for the disciplinary process remain unclear.
The ACT Education Directorate declined to answer questions about Rowe or its position on the event.
What is Wear It Purple Day?
Wear It Purple Day was established in 2010 in response to the bullying, isolation and discrimination experienced by LGBTQIA+ young people. Organisers describe its purpose as creating “supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments”.
Participation commonly involves wearing purple, displaying messages of support or holding age-appropriate activities focused on inclusion and belonging.
The initiative does not require students to identify as LGBTQIA+.
The day is supported by a growing number of workplaces and schools across Australia, with students and teachers documenting the importance of the day for them, including Clair, a queer Year 12 student who described experiencing homophobic comments, shame and isolation within their school and how visible participation in Wear It Purple Day created a sense of safety and hope.
“It’s why this Wear It Purple Day, I hope to see other schools follow in our footsteps and show their students that acceptance is not earned or conditional,” the student wrote.
Lyle Shelton calls for nationwide ban
Family First national director and NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton responded to Rowe’s account by calling for Wear It Purple Day to be banned from Australian schools, his latest campaign against the LGBTQIA+ community.
In a statement released by Family First today Shelton addressed case calling for support of Rowe.
“Janelle Rowe should be regarded as a hero for having the courage to say what countless Australian parents are thinking: four-year-olds do not need LGBTQA+ sexual and gender concepts introduced to them at school,” Shelton said.
“If I’m elected to the NSW Parliament next March, I will introduce legislation to remove gender fluid and LGBTQA+ sexual indoctrination of children from schools,” Mr Shelton said.
“Schools should teach children to treat every person with dignity and respect and should have zero tolerance for bullying.
“But that does not require schools to promote harmful ideas about sexuality and gender identity to infants and primary-school children.
“Wear It Purple Day should be banned from Australian schools, not the brave teachers who call it out.”
Shelton urged education ministers across Australia to intervene and called for “parental primacy” to be restored in schools.
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Wear it Purple day was such an important event in my child’s primary years. It helped mitigate the harm caused by a small minority of kids targeting behaviour. Given many young people socially transition during or before primary school, I reckon this is a key period to improve understanding and promote equality. Such a shame a lead educator couldnt recognise its importance.
ridiculous. heaps of kids have gay parents, shd they also be banned Shelton? that man is just vile. They wont be happy til queer kids are stamped out, then they will move onto the adults. Honestly, this principal is cancer.
I was teacher for about 20 years. And worked with infants and primary school children. We celebrated harmony day, indigenous history and culture days, also wear it purple, environmental support days growing a vegetable garden in kindergarten. All of these celebrations have one thing in common; a sharing environment where bullying , teasing and intolerance of difference were named and shamed. Children learn from parents, teachers and society. They duplicate behaviours and beliefs of these places and people, mostly good but sometimes misunderstanding behaviours can create bullies. Wear it purple supports equality and the removal of bullying behaviours. Activities are age appropriate and do not ask the teachers to reveal sexual roles.