Parents call for primary-age Safe Schools

MUMS and dads of transgender children are calling for the divisive anti-bullying program to be compulsory for under-12s.

Thousands of Melbournians rallied outside the State Library in Melbourne to support the LGBTI student program. Monday, March. 21, 2016. (AAP Image/Mal Fairclough) NO ARCHIVING

PARENTS of transgender children are calling for the divisive Safe Schools program to be compulsory for primary-age kids.

They say there needs to be support for youngsters who may already be thinking about transitioning, and taking hormone blockers to stop the onset of puberty.

The Government last week unveiled sweeping changes to the LGBTI anti-bullying program after an independent review found that parts of the education package were inappropriate for kids.

Lesson plans in which students role-played switching gender were cut and external websites, including one accused of containing a link to a sex shop, were mostly removed.

Particularly controversial elements of the program included course materials with titles such as “OMG I’m Queer”, advice that teachers should not to refer to students as “girls and boys” and children being asked to imagine losing their genitalia.

The ACT and Victorian governments defied federal advice by saying they would continue to fund the program from within state budgets — but fell short of making it compulsory in primary schools.

Melissa Murray and her children Ella, nine, and Noah, eight, rally at Parliament House. Picture: Stephen Laffer

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino​ said he would make the program compulsory for all secondary schools by the end of 2018, Fairfax Media reported.

But he would not commit to making Safe Schools compulsory at primary level, saying principals would be trusted to “use age-appropriate resources that best meet the needs of their community.”

Education Minister Simon Birmingham said students would need parental consent to take part in the program, but criticised those using the scheme to debate issues like same-sex marriage as “grossly irresponsible.”

“This, in the end, is about what is best for children,” he said. “To be able to be included, to feel safe, to be protected from bullying but also of course to be protected from any inappropriate content material.”

The Greens accused the Prime Minister of capitulating to “homophobic” and “bigoted” members in his party over the issue.