Outspoken Senator Cory Bernardi says Safe Schools program bullies heterosexual children

OUTSPOKEN Liberal backbencher Cory Bernardi has claimed a taxpayer funded program designed to make homosexual children feel safer at school “bullies” heterosexual children.

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OUTSPOKEN Liberal backbencher Cory Bernardi has claimed a taxpayer funded program designed to make homosexual children feel safer at school “bullies” heterosexual children.

The South Australia Senator made the claim in an email to William Russell, a supporter of the Safe Schools program aimed at helping lesbian, gay, bisexual and LGBTI school students feel safe at school.

Mr Russell, 20, from Reynella and a News Corp Pride of Australia medal winner for his work in supporting bullied gay and transgender teens, wrote to Mr Bernardi this month saying he was “unfit for Parliament” based on his views on same-sex marriage and his opposition to the program.

The former Urrbrae said the program supports a “safe environment to (sic) the LGBT community” and “educates students about acceptance unlike ACL (Australian Christian Lobby), Australian Marriage Forum and the Marriage Alliance”.

In an emailed response Mr Bernardi on February 16 wrote: “Bullying isn’t something confined to homosexuals yet you are encouraging a program that actually bullies heterosexual children into submission for the gay agenda”.

He said that Mr Russell should “grow up” and stop pushing his “sexual agenda onto eleven-year-old children”.

Senator Cory Bernardi says the Safe Schools program “bullies” heterosexual children. Picture: Kym Smith

When contacted this week Mr Bernardi said he “stands by every single word and the evidence overwhelmingly supports what I have said”.

Mr Russell, began Teen Support Network, a community online support group, four years ago as a “promise” to his closest friend ‘Tony’ who committed suicide after being bullied at primary school for being gay.

Mr Bernardi Liberal Senator’s views about the LGBTI community made him “unfit for parliament”

In his emailed response Mr Bernardi told him to: “grow up” and to stop pushing his sexual agenda on to “eleven-year-old children”.

Mr Russell, who was Mitcham’s Young Citizen of the Year in 2014 told the Sunday Mail he found the Mr Bernadi’s reply “vulgar” and “ill-informed”.

“Cory is saying Safe Schools is being forced upon them but it’s not. Schools and students don’t have to opt in and it’s not compulsory” he said.

“They (Federal Government) are spending $243.8 million on the chaplain’s (advocacy) program and questioning $8 million that has been proven to save lives.”