Gay reps slam archbishop’s school formal stance

by Lydia Ng

April 29, 2008

WHEN Ann Spencer was asked to a friend’s Year 12 ball four years ago, the headmaster voiced his disapproval of the two girls going together.

The headmaster of the Catholic high school was against people of the same sex accompanying each other to a social event, even if the two girls were not in a relationship.

“It was silly to assume that we were going as a gay couple,” Ann, a second-year university student, who is straight, says. “Even so, people should not be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation.”

The West Australian newspaper reported two days ago that Catholic archbishop Barry Hickey said schools conducting partners-only formals should ensure the partners comprised a male and female.

However, gay community reps say students should be able to take whoever they want to their Year 12 school balls, regardless of gender.

“I firmly believe that young men and women who, at age 17 are closer to legally vote, should be able to make up their own minds,” says a spokesman for Country Network, an Australia-wide gay and lesbian organisation.

Murdoch University Queer representative Emma Kingdon believes it’s attitudes like Archbishop Hickey’s that make people insecure about their sexual orientation.

“His opinion is damaging to the queer community and this sort of alienation is frustrating,” she says. “It goes to show how little tolerance is still given to minority groups.”

Several Catholic schools, including Trinity and John XXIII Colleges, were called for comment but did not get back to eMU News.