Queensland private school’s offensive letter home to girl with gay mum

An outraged parent has revealed an offensive and outdated letter that said “homosexuality is a forbidden action” was sent by a school regarding a student talking about her gay mother among friends.

File picture – iStock.

A student at a Brisbane private school has been told by staff not to talk about her gay mother to other students.

The stepmother of the young girl at an unidentified private school in Brisbane has shared a letter sent to the child’s father via email, and which said left her “lost for words”.

The woman shared the letter, which she says was from a non-denominational private school, in a parents’ group on social media.

“We are not religious but we chose this private school for our daughter as they promoted themselves to be non-denominational … not shoving religion down the children’s throats,” she said.

“And prided themselves on inclusion and acceptance.”

However the woman said the school’s counsellor sent home a troubling email.

“We did a session around private and public conversations and navigating friendships as it was brought to my attention that in class, some students have expressed feeling uncomfortable when (your child) shared that her mum is gay and she herself is bisexual,” the letter read.

“At (school name) it becomes quite tricky as the majority of our students are (specific religion) and from the (specific religion) standpoint, homosexuality is a forbidden action hence them feeling uncomfortable when this is spoken about.

“On the other hand (specific religion) strongly believes in the freedom of speech and the right of people to freely act in this country without compulsion or violence.

“Keeping this in mind, the current ages of the students and to make sure everyone feels safe and respected at (school’s name), (child’s name) and myself explored who she could talk to about this topic.

“She identified some of the staff and yourself to have those conversations with.”

File picture – iStock.

The woman said she was “lost for words” after the letter was sent via email to the girl’s father.

“My instinct tells me to change her school but is that the best move for her?

“Do we give them a what for or just accept that this is how they want to run their school and move on?

“I feel like they should probably just promote their school as a religious school full stop, only for those who are actively a part of their religion.

“The public school in our catchment is not a school we feel comfortable sending her to, and every private school in the area is affiliated with some religion.”

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