Today, the Australian government decided they’d have a meeting.
And in that meeting a bunch of ministers decided to save the children. Not just any children. The children who would be most hurt by learning that just because you’re different, doesn’t mean you’re someone to fear. They complained mainly about the “appropriateness” of asking school children to consider other viewpoints.
Cory Bernardi and the right-wing “save the children from anything we don’t like” coalition have raised their heads above the precipice and declared the Safe Schools Coalition, known best for coming into Australian schools and educating children about LGBTI issues, are Persona Non Grata.
Here’s what The Age had to say about this new affront to the purity of Australian children:
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has ordered a review into a controversial school education program aimed at promoting acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBTI) students.
Interestingly, The Age goes on to say that the Safe Schools Coalition has only recently become “controversial”:
The Safe Schools teaching manual, introduced by the previous Labor government, has been attacked in recent weeks by conservative politicians, the Australian Christian Lobby and News Corp newspapers.
Thankfully though, there is a voice of reason in the cabinet room; education minister Simon Birmingham had this to say of the programme:
“Homophobia should be no more tolerated than racism, especially in the school environment,” Birmingham said in a statement. “However, it is essential that all material is age appropriate and that parents have confidence in any resources used in a school to support the right of all students, staff and families to feel safe at school.”
He’s agreed to deliver a report on the Safe Schools Coalition to a future party room meeting.
Read the full report on The Age
Read the Guardian’s report here
