glwa | gay friendly schools in queensland The information in this section includes the names of schools in Queensland (private and public) that might be "gay friendly" to same-sex attracted students and will be updated as required. The information is provided to glwa by community agencies, students and through media reports. If you become aware of any specific that should be included in or removed from either list, please email the webmaster. policies regarding same-sex attracted students | education queensland policies regarding same-sex attracted students | other jurisdictions what makes a 'queer friendly school' schools in queensland that may be queer friendly schools in queensland that may not be queer friendly resources

policies regarding same-sex attracted students | education queensland
In order to explore & consider Education Queensland (EQ) Policies regarding same-sex attracted students, a number of searches were undertaken on the Education Queensland website on 6 January 2006. Although the searches cannot be described as rigorous, arguably this method of acquiring information is one of the more common ways that students and their parents will seek to find out more about this issue. The Queensland results were less than adequate. GLWA remains unaware of any Education Queensland policy that directly refers to the inclusion of and specific needs of same-sex attracted students. If you become aware of any specific Education Queensland policies regarding same-sex attracted students, please email the webmaster.
Search term: "gay" No specific EQ policies regarding same-sex attracted students were found when using the term "gay" in a search of EQ policies. However a general search using the same term yields information on an EQ project called Boys Gender and Schooling, in amongst an assortment of other documents that appear to include staffing policies and courses. It states that "Boys Gender and Schooling has been developed by Education Queensland for school communities - teachers, administrators, parents - working to address issues in boys' education" which include gender construction and masculinity, homophobia, sex based harrassment. In relation to homophobia, the resource acknowledges that "Homophobic harassment is widespread in schools and has an enormous impact on those targeted and those who fear to be. It detracts from the learning and undermines the safety of all students". However the resource stops short of any kind of focus on same-sex attracted students taking a broad brush approach to all forms of "sex-based harrassment". Nor does it set out any policy position regarding same-sex attracted students. It is also worth pointing out that the resource sits within the Boys Gender and Schooling Project and thereby ignores the issues and needs of same-sex attracted girls. Search term: "homophobia" No specific EQ policies at all were found using the term "homophobia" in a search of EQ policies. However a general search of the EQ website using the same term yields information on the same EQ project, Boys Gender and Schooling, referred to and discussed above. Search term: "sex" No specific EQ policies regarding same-sex attracted students were found when using the search term "sex" in a search of EQ policies. Although it did yield: a student protection policy that does talk about protection from harm in the context of the Child Protection Act 1999 a list of legislation, policy & procedures that identify "...processes, responsibilities and procedures to enable Education Queensland staff to operationalise Inclusive Education Statement 2005." The Inclusive Education Statement 2005 defines inclusive education as an approach that "...questions disadvantage and challenges social injustice" and identifies and reduces "barriers to learning, especially for those who are vulnerable to marginalisation and exclusion" and "ensures all students understand and value diversity...". Although it specifically refers to sexuality when it requires that "teachers must...update and refine their knowledge of issues of poverty, gender, disability, location, culture and sexuality...", there is no other reference to or discussion of the needs and issues of same-sex attracted students. A general search using the same term yields 395 results which unfortunately is not terribly useful to the information savy internet surfer. Search term: "same-sex" A search of EQ policies using the term "same-sex" yields no specific EQ policies regarding same-sex attracted students nor does a general search using the same term.

policies regarding same-sex attracted students | other jurisdictions As a useful contrast to the Queensland policies (or lack thereof), the Victorian Department of Education and Training has implemented a policy entitled Safe Schools are Effective Schools which states: "The most important thing teachers can do is...to promote a whole-school environment that is inclusive of the needs of same-sex-attracted and transgender students is to ensure that incidents of homophobic bullying are kept to a minimum." Similarly in New South Wales, information on same-sex attraction and sexuality is included in the PDHPE curriculum.
	"In the past, education programs have virtually ignored talking about same-sex attracted people or presented images which have been negative or stereotypical...Current educational programs in NSW ...are encouraged to address homophobia and same-sex attracted issues through PDHPE programs and whole-school welfare programs. While secondary schools have more opportunities for explicit teaching of same-sex attracted issues through their sexuality programs with adolescents, primary schools are a critical factor in challenging attitudes early in life and promoting a more accepting and diverse society."

what makes a 'queer friendly school'? What is 'queer friendly' and what makes a 'queer friendly school'? The website wikiblog.com contains an somewhat indicative and somewhat humorous entry describing queer friendly as "friendly towards the spread of human life beyond heterosexuality...in favour of equality, liberty and other things ending in 'ity' for all, though sometimes divided on the best route to success". There are all sorts of names for gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersex people - some descriptive and some vilifying. In this section we primarily make use of the term "same-sex attracted student/s" as it appears to be the most accurate term in that:
it factually describes the type of sexual attraction it does not align or associate a student with gay lifestyle or culture, which arguably may be more of a choice for a student to make when of adult or legal age no moral assumptions about sexuality are inherent it contains no opinion about whether same sex attraction is morally or spiritually wrong or right Note that whilst the terms of reference for GLWA inc contain no provisions regarding faith-base values and beliefs, many members and clients of glwa express a faith-based values and/or adopt a faith-based lifestyle.
In the following tables, the term "queer friendly" is used because: it is a commonly used term to describe a range of services that are queer friendly (see above) toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersex people it is a less cumbersome term than the term "same-sex attracted student friendly" For the purposes of this website, no definitive or absolute conclusions will be drawn about whether a school is queer friendly or not. However information will be provided that indicates whether a school may be a queer friendly or may not be queer friendly. A working set of criteria used to determine whether a school may be queer friendly includes: identified by a community or youth worker that works with same-sex attracted students has directly addressed the issue of homophobia in the school environment includes positive literature relevant to same-sex attracted students in its library GLWA is interested in building on or developing this set of criteria and welcomes submissions to the webmaster. On a final note, users of this section should keep in mind that schools may be changeable in relation to their attitudes toward same-sex attracted students, depending on who is in control of administration at any particular point. Users are encouraged to regard the information herein as an indication only. For parents or students, it makes sense to check out with the school, upon enrolment, around their local policies and ways that they would deal with particular situations if they arose. GLWA gives no warranty as to the nature of information listed in or accessed from this section. GLWA also gives no actual or implied endorsement of any school detailed herein. The information in this section is provided as a community service, reviewed for accuracy regularly, indicative only and correct to the best of our knowledge.

schools in queensland that may be queer friendly
Name of School	Location of School	Criteria
Albert Park Flexi School	Milton, Brisbane	Identified by a worker with same-sex attracted students
Wellington Point SHS	Wellington Point, Redlands Shire	Identified by a worker with same-sex attracted students
Capalaba SHS	Capalaba, Redlands Shire	Identified by a worker with same-sex attracted students
Kelvin Grove SHS	Kelvin Grove, Brisbane	Identified by TWO separate workers with same-sex attracted students
Brisbane SHS	South Brisbane, Brisbane	Identified by a worker with same-sex attracted students
Flagstone College	Jimboomba, Beaudesert Shire	Identified by a worker with same-sex attracted students
Tullawong SHS	Caboolture Shire	Identified by a worker with same-sex attracted students
Southern Cross Catholic college	Scarborough, Redcliffe	Identified by a worker with same-sex attracted students

schools in queensland that may not be queer-friendly
Name of School	Location of School	Source (of info regarding school being gay-UNfriendly)
Alexandra Hills SHS	Alexandra Hills, Redlands Shire	School administration asked a gay student not to attend and refused establishment of a gay support group. Click here or here to read Courier Mail article. Click here or here to read a 4zzz transcript of an interview with Trudy Lilicrap, Keith Phillips' mother or here to hear the interview.

resources This is not an exhaustive list, but shows that there are some very credible and useful resources available. If you become aware of any good resources regarding same-sex attracted students, please email the webmaster. Supporting Transgender Young People, Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria Safe Schools are Effective Schools, Department of Education & Training, Victoria A list of resources is available at the SSAFE (Same-Sex Attracted Friendly Environments) in Schools website, Family Planning Victoria