Program on bullying is hardly a gay plot

The Safe Schools Coalition Program came under attack last week from former pastor and now State MP Peter Abetz, who warned it was part of some homosexual conspiracy to “push a gay agenda on schoolchildren”.

Let’s look at the facts.

According to Writing Themselves In, a national study of same-sex attracted young people conducted in 2010, about 75 per cent of same-sex attracted youth had been physically or verbally abused, with the greatest abuse occurring in schools.

Writing Themselves In also found 21 per cent of young same-sex attracted people missed a day or more at school as a direct result of bullying on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender diversity, and 8 per cent dropped out altogether.

Because of abuse and discrimination, young people who are same-sex attracted or gender diverse are four to six times more likely to experience mental health problems and seriously consider suicide, and four times more likely to misuse drugs and alcohol.

There are a range of funded programs dealing with different aspects of bullying, including race-based bullying, body-shape and cyber bullying. The Safe Schools Coalition Program builds on these.

Some Australian high school studies have shown that 8-11 per cent of students are same-sex attracted or gender diverse. This means at least 14,000 students across WA are likely to be directly affected by this form of bullying. That’s the equivalent of dozens of average-sized high schools.

This significant minority is known to experience exceptionally high levels of prejudice, bullying and resultant mental health problems. This has a negative impact on their educational achievement. The energy it takes many of these students to hide their identity, and the fear they have of being identified as different, also reduces educational outcomes.

Most of the bullied students are not same-sex attracted or gender diverse. They are bullied because of related factors such as behaving in ways that are seen as inappropriate for their gender or having a sibling, friends or parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex.

Focusing only on the percentage of students who may be affected by this bullying ignores that the impact of this bullying on the individual can be devastating.

Sexual and gender identity are often not visible forms of diversity and schools may not know how to deal with them without guidance and programs.

In the absence of specific programs and policies, students may be less likely to report this form of bullying for fear it will not be taken seriously or dealt with properly.

The evidence shows teachers are more hesitant to take action against bullying on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity because they are unsure what to do or fear lack of support.

Addressing this bullying is not a “‘gay lifestyle promotion program”, as Mr Abetz would have us believe. It is foundational to safe, productive schools.

Bullying on any grounds is disruptive of learning environments and must be challenged if we are to improve educational outcomes.

The Education Department has a legal obligation under the Anti-Discrimination Act to prevent bullying and the Safe Schools Coalition Program funding is for this work.

There is no sexual content in the materials presented to schools as part of this program. It does not focus on sexual activity.

The aim is to provide the whole school community with an understanding of the diversity of students’ sexuality, gender identity and of intersex students. The program emphasises the importance of supporting students to be who they are at school. It is aimed at teachers, not students, through professional development.

The Safe Schools Coalition Program was initiated under a Liberal government in Victoria, and adopted by Liberal governments in NSW and Tasmania. It has also been rolled out in the ACT and South Australia with Queensland, the NT and WA now coming on board.

It has not been rejected by any State government.

Commonwealth funding was first provided under the previous Labor government and continues under the Abbott Government. Programs such as these also have the backing of the Australian Medical Association and the Australian Psychological Society.

Mr Abetz is entitled to his personal religious beliefs.

However, as a State MP he has a duty to stick to the facts, evidence and research when addressing social policy.

Brian Greig is a former Democrats senator for WA