School Formal Bans Gay Partners
Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane has put its foot down, telling a gay student that he, and eight other gay students, are not allowed to bring their partners to the high school formal. The students are now considering boycotting the formal entirely.
Dr Philip Aspinall, head of the Anglican Church, has told ABC Radio that while the gay students should be treated with the utmost respect, it’s also a decision that the school has to make on its own.
“It’s a great pity… Most people who go to a school formal go with a friend and there is no sexual relationship involved.”
According to the Courier Mail, the student who initially approached the school about the matter felt let down by his school when he was told that the rules only allowed boys to bring female partners.
”[The school] said to me, ‘if you start a political movement this is going to get blown out of proportion. If you go quietly about this and if you don’t cause us too much trouble, we will just quietly change the rules so they’re allowed and no one gets hurt’,” said the student, who wishes to remain anonymous.
“At the start of 2006, there was no one at the school who was openly gay… but now there are dozens. You could say it’s the changing times but it’s been brought about by the efforts of a few brave individuals. Generally, it’s a very accepting school. It’s not like anyone has ever been persecuted for being gay. A few students will have second thoughts about going to the formal because of all this.”
While the story has sparked huge online debate on the Courier Mail’s website, the headmaster of the school, Jonathan Hensman, is standing firm.
“We decide what is appropriate behaviour and what is not,” said Hensman. He says that the event is all about young men escorting young ladies to a dinner dance.
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Thrawn04
said ages ago