Methodist Ladies College Kew students call out ‘religious discrimination’ in wake of uniform double standards

Methodist Ladies College students say they have been told to remove their religious crosses for fear of offending others while their classmates get away with wearing furry ears, tails and rainbow-themed items.

Students at Methodist Ladies College say they were told to remove cross necklaces at the Christian school for fear of offending other students. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Pupils at a leading religious private girls’ school are allowed to wear furry ears, tails and rainbow-themed items, but not Christian religious crosses for fear of offending others, students say.

Senior students at Methodist Ladies College in Kew have spoken up about what they say is “religious discrimination” against the open display of crosses on a necklace at the Christian school.

One student who spoke to the Herald Sun on behalf of a small group of year 12s said girls are told to “take off their crosses by teachers when other students complain they are offensive to non-Christians”.

“My friend was wearing a cross and there was another girl in our class who said she found the cross really offensive and so the teacher told her to take it off,” she said.

“My friend’s parents, who are very religious, tried to get answers from the school and were told ‘it’s not a good look for the school’.

“This is supposed to be a religious school but they are listening to minority opinion rather than mainstream religious students,” she said.

Students have called the move against the open display of crosses ‘religious discrimination’. Picture: Supplied

It’s understood girls who wish to wear Christian crosses are asked to wear them on a longer chain so they are not visible, but students insist they are being told to take them off.

The large girls’ school is well known for its strict uniform requirements and does not allow make-up or jewellery, hair that is not tied back, inappropriate dress lengths or non-MLC approved clothing items.

Yet the Herald Sun has seen photos of students in MLC school uniform with cat ears, tails, and items such as rainbow socks.

The college says its Christian heritage ‘serves as a foundation’ for fostering an inclusive environment at the school. Picture: Wayne Taylor

The school has a strong policy on diversity and actively seeks to include and support gender diverse and sexuality diverse students.

A spokesperson from MLC said the school was “deeply committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and diversity”.

“Our Christian heritage serves as a foundation for welcoming individuals of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds, fostering an environment where every student is supported in expressing their identity and beliefs.

“Regarding religious jewellery, such as cross necklaces, the College’s uniform policy supports consistent presentation among students while respecting individual beliefs.

“We apply all policies with care and sensitivity, ensuring that individual beliefs are respected while supporting our shared identity through the MLC uniform,” the spokesperson said.

As the Herald Sun reported last year, many elite private schools have some of the nation’s most restrictive uniform and grooming policies, outlawing common hairstyles, fake tans and eyelashes, hair not tied back and dresses above the knee.

Victorian schools are also attended by a number of students who dress as “furries” and wear animal ears and tails.