School formal gay couple ban ‘illegal’

Posted on April 18, 2008
Filed Under Gay News Blog

Authorities say it would be unlawful for New South Wales schools to follow a top Brisbane boys’ school’s lead in barring gay couples from its formal.

Opinion is divided in Queensland over the decision by Anglican Church Grammar School, or ‘Churchie’, to knock back a gay student’s request to bring a male partner to the school formal.

The director of student welfare at the NSW Education Department, David McKay, has told ABC’s NewsRadio schools in the state would be acting unlawfully if they tried to bar gay couples from school events.

“The department has to follow the anti-discrimination legislation,” he said.

“We would again be saying if that was an issue in a school, then a decision not to allow that would probably be unlawful under the anti-discrimination legislation.”

The department says it is trying to encourage teachers to do more to rid schools of homophobia.

See School formal gay couple ban ‘illegal’
ABC Online, Australia