Students Sign On The Dotted Line

International News, By gnosis, 1st September, 2008

Gay students at a number of schools in New Zealand have been banned from taking their partners to their school formal unless they sign a contract confirming that they are homosexual.

The schools have claimed that the contracts are designed to prevent students from taking their friends to school balls but the move has been seen as discrimination against gay students.

The NZ support group, Rainbow Youth, is now organising an alternative ball for the gay students where “it doesn’t matter who your date is or who wears the dress!”

The group’s Serafin Dillon said she knew of at least four schools that had presented students with such contracts and said the policies breached New Zealand’s Bill Of Rights.

“If this was in the workplace it would be discrimination and it would be unheard of. But because it’s a school they think they can somehow get away with it,” Dillon told the Dominion Post.

Rongotai College pupil Joshua Wright, 16, said he planned to take a male ball partner to his school ball and said of the policies: “If [the school] asks me to sign a contract, I’m going to say ‘no’ and just go anyway.”

Secondary Principals Association president Peter Gall says it needs to be left to individual schools to decide what is best for their students. Gall added he was “more worried about dealing with dates coming along who are not students, and ensuring they are suitable.

“Balls are not compulsory events, and organisers need to be able to make their own rules about them.”

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission said it is aware of policies barring same-sex partners but said that forcing students to sign a contract could be unlawful.

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Your Thoughts

meezon04

said ages ago

oh now COME OFF IT!

Mydoona

said ages ago

ok New Zealand..another homophobic country to cross off my visit list...

Zakalwe

said ages ago

I say good on them! Finally an end to all those fake same sex partners attending school formals! ;-)

Travis de Jonk

said ages ago

That's Outrageous and really disappointing for a country that leads in so many other ways politically. Come on New Zealanders - Don't take it lying down!

Travis de Jonk

said ages ago

That's Outrageous and really disappointing for a country that leads in so many other ways politically. Come on New Zealanders - Don't take it lying down!

weathervain

said ages ago

I think all the kids should be signing a contract stating who they are bringing and the nature of the relationship if this is the case, not just the gay ones. I can understand that they are doing this to try and identify possible violent outbreaks between homophobic students and non-homophobic students. My school made us sign a contract if we were bringing anyone who was not a student to our Year 12 formal.

dracon388

said ages ago

I went to my ex-partners year 10 formal, had to sign only because I wasnt a current student... Not much else than that I dont think, the school was really good and the students were decent. I can see the schools view on this, but how many people bring mates anyway? - Its anit hap-hazard for the Gay kids, and irritating all the same.

GenesisInVain

said ages ago

i wish i even had the freedom of taking my then partner to the school formal. so unheard of over here, especially incathlic schools

dracon388

said ages ago

Mmmm, I guess that was one beauty of public school - there wasn't many :o

professor_juzzendyke

said ages ago

i don't mind this. the minds of year 10 students can't be under estimated for mischief

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