Making schools safe for everyone

Coming out is hard because of ongoing stigma, explains Sam Watson

WHAT will they say? Will I lose my friends? Why do I have to be different? Four years ago, when I was at a Catholic College and slowly accepting myself, these questions ran through my head constantly.

10:35am. The bell rings, recess, I rush to my locker, grab my food and head out to my friends. “Hey Sam, are you gay?” one friend asks. I was silent, a rare moment of having no words. “I’ll talk to you at lunch”, I say. Later I came out to my friends as gay. It was a confronting experience that I would never wish on anyone. Thankfully my close friends were very supportive.

Coming out as LGBTIQ+ is made hard by the stigma that still exists in society, despite the achievement of marriage equality.

It’s made harder by the fact that unlike, say, race, you can’t see sexual orientation or gender identity. When coming to accept yourself you can feel deeply alone, until you share your identity with others your best support network is Google. This is even harder for rural youth who don’t have the benefit of being exposed to LGBTIQ+ role models and events.

I left my Catholic college because I felt it was no longer appropriate for me to advocate for marriage equality, given the leadership of the church strongly opposed it.

I respect their right to hold these views, and I am also grateful for the support of staff, and the value of respect for others that I developed through my 10 years of Catholic education.

But now that the marriage equality debate is over we need to turn our attention to the need for LGBTIQ+ students in faith-based schools to feel safe, supported and included.

In Australia, 80 per cent of discrimination, prejudice and bullying experienced by LGBTIQ+ young people occurs at school, a place where all students should feel safe. Over 60 per cent of LGBTIQ+ youth have experienced some form of abuse. Surveys show LGBTIQ+ young people from faith backgrounds experience particularly high levels of prejudice and self-doubt. These statistics are concerning for any person, especially parents.

So what can parents, students, teachers and schools do to support LGBTIQ+ kids?

Whether the program is called “Safe Schools” or “Celebrating Diversity”, every school needs to be active in its support of LGBTIQ+ students.

Addressing this issue as a generic anti-bullying program is not enough, because being LGBTIQ+ is unlike other characteristics.

Whether they are public, Catholic or independent, all schools have a duty of care to support their students.

Education regarding sexual and gender diversity for students and staff is essential in creating a community that is understanding and accepting.

Support networks, student groups, speakers and activities are all great ways of building awareness in schools.

When faced with the very real prospect of being disowned or losing friends, knowing that you have at least one person to talk to without judgment is perhaps the most important thing.

Whether it be in a speech by the principal or a group session with the school counsellor, directly expressing support for all students of diversity and making this support clear is essential.

The current Tasmanian Government has included LGBTIQ+ support and professional development for teachers as part of its Inclusive Schools Program.

While this is a step in the right direction it is not enough.

Until a program is introduced in independent and Catholic schools, a significant number of Tasmanian students are missing out.

A recent national poll showed that 80 per cent of Australians oppose discrimination against LGBTI students in religious schools and the majority oppose government funding for schools that discriminate.

Clearly it is time for all schools to act, including religious schools.

Edmund Rice Education Australia provides a great example with their Live Life to the Full program that has already been implemented in selected Catholic schools around Australia.

If parents are concerned about what their children are learning, they already have the right to take their child out of that class.

But I believe most parents want their child to learn in a safe and supportive environment, including one that is safe for LGBTIQ+ students.

I’m confident that faithbased schools can and will become more inclusive. The majority of Catholics and Christians supported marriage equality, plus the Pope recently said that being gay doesn’t matter because, “God made you like that and loves you”.

To the scared, confused or questioning young people reading this, just know that you are normal, people love you and you do not have to rush. Wait until you feel ready.

It has worked out for me and it will for you.

It was a confronting experience that I would never wish on anyone. Thankfully my close friends were very supportive.