‘Why Does The Religious Freedom Of Christian Schools Have So Many Victims?’
By Rev. Alex Pittaway
As a Christian my job is to love everyone who comes across my path. No exceptions. No judgements. This week we have seen Citipointe Christian College tell it’s LGBTQI students that not only are they in the same category as paedophiles and those who commit bestiality, but they will be excluded if they do not agree to this abusive, toxic and hateful contract.
My question not just to Citipointe but to the Scott Morrison Government who promised us no LGBTQI student would be expelled, is why does your so called religious freedom have so many victims? ‘
I see my religious freedom as the freedom to love and accept all people. To Christian schools around Australia I ask you, why is your ability to teach and express your faith defined by who you can exclude instead of who you can love?
????️???? All students should go to school feeling safe and with equal opportunities to learn and grow. We stand with Bethany, and all students at Citipointe Christian College who are demanding that the school recalls its exclusionary enrolment contract. [1/3] https://t.co/mL0x9xiQVQ
— Equality Australia ???? (@EqualityAu) January 31, 2022
‘I Was Forced Into Closet In School’
I spent 13 years (1995 – 2007) in a private Christian school very much like Citipointe. In an environment like that homophobia went unchallenged. Worse than that homophobia tied in with it – ‘you’re going to hell if you disagree with this homophobia’ was a terrifying reality to wake up to every day in school.
Like many students in Christian schools, I had no choice in being sent to a school that said who I was, was an abomination against God. I was forced into a closet of fear, of expulsion, from my school, rejection from my church and possible homelessness. I couldn’t speak up when I saw teachers call Oscar Wilde the most perverted man in history who deserved to be sent to prison.
I had no recourse from teachers when other students would call me by my last name and say ‘Pitta-gay’ instead of Pittaway even though I was not out. I was forced to police myself every day to not give a hint of my sexuality. That daily policing lead to struggles with anxiety in later life.
Harassment And Bullying
I remember one student who faced relentless bullying even for the perception of being gay, after being accused of kissing another boy on the bus. I myself experienced bullying even after I graduated, with students harassing me with midnight phone calls and homophobic text messages that went on for several weeks.
The effect of Citipointe College telling it’s students that who they are is akin to paedophilia will have a devastating impact on LGBTQI staff and students. It will make students and staff hyper vigilant that if they don’t conceal their sexuality they will be expelled.
It will force existing LGBTQI students into deeper closets that could have the impact of not just seeing a school that is against them but their understanding of God being against them as well.
To carry that heavy load of the whole world against you makes me fear for the lasting lifelong impacts that this enrolment contract has on students.
Citipointe’s Actions Are Deeply Triggering For Many
Here’s a beautiful, loving response to the Citipointe Church outrage from Bishop Jeremy Greaves – sent to all Qld Anglican schools today.
This confirms my strong conviction that we must amplify the voices of liberal Christians who are working for justice within the church. pic.twitter.com/LA1HzLNNSB
— Chrys Stevenson ???? ???? (@Chrys_Stevenson) January 31, 2022
Right now I know former LGBTQI students and staff who were fired or discriminated against over the issue of sexuality who are being deeply triggered and distressed by Citipointe’s actions.
I fear others are having to relive years of bullying, fear and harassment at the hands of private Christian schools, after seeing not only Citipointe’s enrolment policy but the gaslighting from the Principal who stated ‘Citipointe does not judge students on the basis of their sexuality’. How can you compare being LGBTQI to being a paedophile and that not being the most despicable kind of judgment?
Can you imagine if Citipointe instead was trying to bar enrolment on the basis of race? Why is that schools like Citipointe can not be permitted to discriminate on the basis of race but they can discriminate on the basis of orientation or gender identity?
If you think that’s an outrageous comparison, Christian schools in the United States during the 1970s fought tooth and nail against racial integration of their schools. Indeed opposing desegregation was the reason why conservative Christians first got involved in politics in that country.
We Need Laws To Protect LGBTQI Students
I am encouraged though. When I was at school it would have been unthinkable for the public to come to the defence of the vulnerable such as an Anglican Bishop to say that in QLD no Anglican school will expel or exclude an LGBTQI student.
I went back to the Christian school where I experienced so much homophobia this year, partly to reclaim my power, partly to do what I could for the next generation. I was encouraged that the school had come a long way and had even fully accepted a trans student as they transitioned giving that student uniforms which matched their gender identity.
But as Citipointe (which will forever be a byword for exclusion in the minds of many) shows us, we need laws to protect LGBTQI students in fundamentalist schools.
I call Scott Morrison to live up to his promise that no gay student would be expelled. This document from Citipointe clearly wants to do just that.
Christian Schools Don’t Have A Monopoly On God
The message I have for students and staff who are LGBTQI at Citipointe and any other homophobic Christian schools is that these schools do not have a monopoly on God.
God is way more loving and kind and accepting of you just as you are than the narrow bigoted minds who decided to compare some of Australia’s most vulnerable young people to people who commit acts of bestiality. There are churches and communities out there ready to accept you. Please reach out for support.
Rev. Alex Pittaway is a Uniting Church member and MCC Minister and convenor of Safe Schools Private Schools an online FB page.
If you feel distressed reading the story, you can reach out to support services.
For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14
For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.
We can expect no truly Christian (Love Compassion, Generosity as we are told Jesus taught) from Scott Morrison. people seem to have very short memories so here is just a bit of a reminder as to what Morrison and his former boss John Howard are really like. They both portray themselves as Devout Christians yet their actions put the Lie to that.
Whether or not you approve of Refugees and Asylum Seekers coming to Australia and seeking Refuge is immaterial. Personally the more the merrier!
International Law – as agreed to by successive Federal Australian Governments places no legal requirements as to how desperate people should arrive in any country seeking Refuge. All they want is somewhere where they and their families can live in Peace, where those who are members of the GLBTIQ+ can live and love as they should.
John Howard and Scott Morrison and a very short time later that other “Devout Christian” Peter Dutton, decided they had the right to deny those who arrived here by leaky boat had no right to do so and they threw them into their nazi-style Off-shore Concentration Camps, they chose these off-shore sites because they knew decent, compassionate Australians would not be able to go and see what atrocities were being committed. Then they brought some of Our Refugees and Asylum Seekers to the mainland, despite being proven to be Genuine Refugees Howard, Morrison and Dutton, with ALP, Liberal, National & One Nation support, have kept some of these people locked up in Detention for getting on to close to 10 years. People who have been deemed to be Genuine Refugees. So much for Morrison and his oft-proclaimed “I am a good Christian” – he doesn’t know the meaning of the word. He will do nothing to protect the Rights of All Australians – including members pf Our GLBTIQ+ Community he will side with the Churches which as we have all seen have no hesitation in covering up Child Sex Abuse by their members, their priests, bishops, archbishops, nuns and those of the quasi-military Salvation Army.
Once again the Star Observer promotes apartheid by quoting religious queers and excluding the 70% of queer people who are not religious.