Old girls shocked by college’s “intolerance”

FORMER Abbotsleigh students will go ahead with a protest march against their old-school’s “intolerant” stance on gays on Saturday despite an apology from the school over a letter that sparked a social media firestorm.

Abbotsleigh headmistress Megan Krimmer with Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Dr Glenn Davies.

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FORMER Abbotsleigh students will go ahead with a protest march against their old-school’s “intolerant” stance on gays on Saturday despite an apology from the school over a letter that sparked a social media firestorm.

At least 200 people have registered to march from Abbotsleigh College in Wahroonga to Barker College in Hornsby, another school which signed the open letter and has since apologised for the hurt caused.

They will present a petition with over 7,000 signatures to the heads of both schools.

The head of Shore at North Sydney and Sydney’s Anglican Archbishop have also apologised after 34 Anglican schools signed a letter urging federal MPs to protect exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act that allow them to sack gay teachers.

Head of Barker College, Phillip Heath.

The letter, which argued that faith-based schools should have a right to employ staff who support their ethos, followed the government’s introduction of a bill to stop discrimination against gay students.

The letter was signed by principals from some of Sydney’s most elite private schools and sent to MPs including Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

Saturday’s “Let’s Educate Equality” peaceful protest, organised by four Abbotsleigh old girls, will hear from Amanda Keeling, Labor candidate for Ku-ring-gai at the March state election, as well Abbotsleigh old girl and Uniting Church minister Amelia Koh Butler and Karl Zlotkowski, co-chair of the first mardi gras.

“No person should be made to feel unwanted, alienated or inferior, especially not in their formative years, and by people they trust,” said organiser Annemieke Tierney.

“By publicly endorsing a discriminatory law, these schools are sending a harmful message to vulnerable LGBTIQA+ kids: “We don’t want you here.”

Head of Abbotsleigh, Megan Krimmer.

“Discrimination is not okay. These school administrations do not speak for the wider school community.

“Children should be free to learn and grow without internalising bigotry. Many kids cannot confide in their parents about how they feel, let alone move to a more accepting school. They deserve to know that they are loved and supported.”

Their Facebook petition said Abbotsleigh had long provided a warm, accepting and nurturing environment.

“The Christianity we became familiar with spoke of love, tolerance, kindness and generosity,” it said.

“Unfortunately, it appears that the essence of what made our school such a wonderful place is being lost.

“It is irrelevant as to whether Abbotsleigh intends to ever exercise their right to remove an LGBTIQA+ student or member of staff from the school community. The harm is already being done.

Shore School principal Dr Tim Wright.

“A school that receives a large amount of public funding, as Abbotsleigh does, should not be allowed to discriminate against LGBTIQA+ people.

“We will not stand by idly as children are put at risk by those who fail to practice the Christian values which they preach.”

Former Roseville College student Caitlin Casey said: “If these schools do not discriminate as they claim then the removal of this exemption should not be an issue for them. Why do Anglican Schools need an exemption that they do not apparently use?

“If they love and accept people as they claim to do then they would not support these exemptions which inflict so much pain. They would listen to what their beloved community is telling them.”

Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies said the open letter had been misinterpreted as being homophobic.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was sent the letter. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

And so was Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Picture: AAP Image/Tony McDonough

“We have gay teachers and gay students in our schools now, we are inclusive and open. Let us look at the record at what our schools have been doing,” he said.

Shore principal Tim Wright said: “There hasn’t been any gay student expelled from an Anglican school in my memory, and there hasn’t been a gay staff member sacked from an Anglican School in my memory.

“At interview the question we ask is ‘are you able to support the Christian ethos of the school?’ “

He said he felt he had let the boys down and was sorry.

Abbotsleigh College headmistress Megan Krimmer said while “I believe that Australia should have legislation that guarantees freedom of religion for all ... we are an Anglican School which is inclusive and non-discriminatory”.

“We do not and will not expel students due to sexual orientation, nor is sexual orientation the determinant of the employment and tenure of staff.”

Barker head Phillip Heath said he had been advised the open letter would help support the parliamentary debate into religious freedom.

“It is now clear the letter has generated unintended hurt and division,” he wrote in an email to parents.

“I reiterate my position that the school strongly encourages inclusion and no student or member of staff of Barker College will ever be removed from our community on the grounds of their gender, their sexuality or their beliefs.”

The chair of Barker’s School Council Peter Berkley said: “Some of our students thought we might actually want to expel them for being gay. We did not foresee this and are sorry.”