A Christian school in Brisbane, Citipointe Christian College in Carindale, has issued an apology for implementing controversial student gender and sexuality contracts two years ago. The contracts required students to be enrolled based on their biological sex and stated that homosexuality was 'sinful' [9a88fcef]. The school eventually withdrew the contracts and the principal stepped aside. The matter was referred to the Human Rights Commission, and an agreement was reached between the school and parents. In the apology, the school expressed regret for causing distress and concern to students and parents and reaffirmed its commitment to anti-discrimination and inclusion. The statement was welcomed by former teacher and parent Helen Clapham Burns as a step towards reconciliation with the LGBTI community. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre called for changes to anti-discrimination laws to prevent schools from implementing discriminatory rules against LGBTI students and teachers [9a88fcef].
The incident at Citipointe Christian College highlights the ongoing issue of discrimination against LGBTQ+ students in educational institutions. The introduction of gender and sexuality contracts that restrict enrollment based on biological sex and label homosexuality as 'sinful' is harmful and exclusionary. The apology from the school and its commitment to anti-discrimination and inclusion are important steps towards creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students. However, the incident also underscores the need for changes to anti-discrimination laws to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future [9a88fcef].