Parents, student to file discrimination complaints over Citipointe Christian college contract

Parents and former students of a Brisbane school have filed discrimination complaints with the Queensland Human Rights Commission regarding a controversial enrolment contract.

Parents and former students of a Brisbane school have filed discrimination complaints with the Queensland Human Rights Commission regarding a controversial enrolment contract.

Citipointe Christian College in January updated its enrolment contract, asking families to agree their children would identify as their birth gender or face being excluded from the school.

Citipointe Christian College at Carindale in Brisbane’s east. Picture: Richard Walker

The Carindale school was slammed over the contract, which also proclaimed beliefs that homosexuality and bisexuality were destructive to society, with former Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying he “did not support” moves by the school.

The principal at the time withdrew the contract within a week of it making headlines, before he resigned the following month.

The Queensland Human Rights Commission yesterday received five individual complaints, which were supported by the Queensland LGBTI Legal Service.

Human Rights lawyer Matilda Alexander from the LGBTI Legal Service expected more complaints would be lodged in the coming weeks given she had been reached by more than 20 people with concerns over the contract.

“What my clients are hoping for today is that discrimination stops at Citipointe and that we set a strong example elsewhere that discriminator contracts like this won’t go forward,” Ms Alexander said.

“That might look the implementation of a policy that other religious schools in Queensland have already implemented that facilitates discussions and processes around trans and gender diverse students, and students with diverse sexualities.

“That would be an excellent outcome that would have a long-term impact on students at Citipointe and elsewhere.”

Ms Alexander said while there were strong legal protections in Queensland equally prohibiting discrimination on the bases of religion, sexuality, gender identity and race, she hoped the Federal government would introduce stronger protections.

Citipointe parent Elise Myers said it was difficult to keep her children at the school following the contract’s release and she was hoping that lodging a complaint would help the school become a more inclusive place.

Ms Myers said she had a daughter who was queer-identifying and the contract felt personal and upsetting to her family.

“I was just shocked that they would have the audacity to do that and then do it in the name if the Christian faith,” Ms Myers said.

“It was really disappointing because schools that preach love and equality- that contract had nothing to do with that.”

The contract came after former Citipointe transgender student Emmey Leo bought a dress for the formal and the college advised that she was instead expected to dress conservatively, in male formal attire.

Ms Leo and her mother Janina were among those lodging a complaint.

“When we came to this year and we found that the contract had clauses in it that would expel students like Emmey … we were devastated that the school would go to that length and we felt that it was potentially prompted by Emmey attending the formal in a dress,” Janina said.

“That’s the reason why we don’t want to see other students go through this.”

Former teacher and parent Helen Clapham-Burns handed in her resignation in January when she felt she was unable to sign the contract.

“As a Christian educator, my faith informs my duty of care to provide love and safety for all students. No exceptions,” she said.

“The events that took place at Citipointe were in direct opposition to that calling.

“We need to make sure this can never happen again. Not at Citipointe, and not in any school in Australia.”

Ms Alexander said no policies or commitments had changed at the school to make students feel safe since the contract was withdrawn.

She said there were various remedies, including compensation, for acts of discrimination but her clients were seeking any action which would prevent discrimination occurring in the future.

“And I think a very clear way that we can do that is implementing a policy at Citipointe which provides for respectful treatment of LGBTI students,” Ms Alexander said.

Complaints accepted by the commission are referred to a conciliation conference where complainants and respondents discuss the impacts of the issue.

Complaints which aren't resolved can be directed to a tribunal.

Citipointe has not responded to a request for comment.