Sydney Catholic school backflips on policy restricting same-sex couples from Year 12 formal

A Catholic school has backflipped on a controversial rule for its upcoming Year 12 formal after facing heavy public backlash.

St. Ursula’s School in Kingsgrove, NSW, has backflipped on its policy regarding the attendance of same-sex couples at the school formal.

Abbie Frankland, the girlfriend of a St Ursula’s student, started a Change.org petition when she discovered that the school did not permit same-sex couples to attend the formal together.

But on Friday, after a meeting with students, the school reversed its decision, allowing Abbie and her girlfriend Emily to attend the formal together next Thursday.

In a victory update to petition supporters, Abbie announced, “We are thrilled to share we received a decision from the school, and they have granted permission for me to attend the school formal with my girlfriend Emily!”

“To everyone who signed our petition, shared our story, and stood with us in solidarity: a heartfelt thank you. Your support has made a difference.”

“We hope that our story can inspire others to challenge discriminatory policies and practices wherever they exist.”

Abbie Frankland, the girlfriend of a St Ursula’s student, started a Change.org petition when she discovered that the school did not permit same-sex couples to attend the formal together. Picture: Supplied

This petition struck a chord within the school and with advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, who viewed it as an opportunity for the institution to take a step toward greater inclusivity and acceptance.

Parents said it was an unnecessary stress on students amid their HSC exam period.

“It’s totally taken the kids’ focus off the HSC,” a mother told Ben Fordham Live on 2GB.

The mother said her daughter planned to take another girl to the formal.

“She automatically was upset – crying in the car,” she said.

Fordham pointed out that the woman’s 18-year-old daughter could legally marry a woman but not take one to her formal.

The school reversed its decision on Friday after a meeting with students.

Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown told news.com.au that a school formal should be a “rite of passage” for all Australian students and called for an overhaul of state and federal laws.

“Marring this personal milestone with silly prejudice and outdated rules helps nobody, protects nothing and instead ruins what should be a joyous step in a young person’s journey to adulthood,” she said.

“Unfortunately, incidents like this happen around the country because of exemptions in federal and NSW law that allow religious schools to discriminate against their own students because of their sexual orientation.

“It’s time for these laws to reflect what the vast majority of Australians already believe, including people of faith, that people should not be punished for who they love or who they are.”