St Aloysius College has already made tremendous efforts in recent years to actively foster an open and inclusive environment for all Aloysians.  We, the Aloysian community (students, teachers, old boys and their families), are showing our support for Aloy's to come out publicly in support of bills and reforms to fight discrimination against vulnerable students in private schools. Aloy's has the opportunity to lead the way for all private schools in the state, championing our Jesuit ethos for Social Justice.

In August 2013 Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich introduced the private member's bill to NSW State Parliament to abolish Anti-Discrimination exemptions for private schools as a measure to protect the safety and wellbeing of LGBTI students.  Even though the bill does NOT threaten schools' ability to provide faith based education, it received no official support from any private school or the coalition government.  The bill has been put on hold since 20 November.

Alex Greenwich currently has the cooperation of the Education Minister to reform the Board of Studies' registration process for private schools as another measure to improve the situation for vulnerable students.  And he has promised to continue to work towards protection of vulnerable students by Anti-Discrimination laws, and may even reintroduce the bill next year. 

I am in correspendence with the rector Fr Hosking, Fr Middleton and Fr Frank Brennan concerning the issue, with the full support of Seb Robertson, class of 2003, and Tom Borger, School Captain 2003.

Fr Brennan is a well respected thinker, lawyer and champion for human rights and social justice, and have made statements concerning marriage equality July this year.

http://ncis.anu.edu.au/people/brennan.php​

http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/wp/2013/07/10/media-release-advocates-welcome-catholic-clerics-change-of-heart-on-marriage-equality/ 

 

**** When you sign this petition, please note down how you are part of the aloysian community and any special experience or qualifications relating to the issue. OTHERWISE I CAN'T COUNT YOUR SIGNATURE WHEN I SUBMIT THE PETITION TO THE SCHOOL. If you're not part of the Aloysian Comunity but would like to contribute, please consider starting a petition for your private school; the more schools the better ****  E.g:

"Prefect. Class of 1985. Brother of Johnny Oldboy class of 1990. Father of Timmy Oldboy class of 2012. Committee member of Old Boy's Union 2005-present. School counseller 1995-2004."

If you have privacy concerns about displaying your signature and comment publicly, you can sign the petition with "Display my Signature on Change.org" UNchecked.  But if you do this, please send your details to:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JrUW6RfOPzLIm_RpX5tKAZdkUHWodG2rUSFt0L5mKcA/viewform

 

History behind this petition

11 November

I initiated a correspondence with Fr Chris Middleton about the bill, urging the school to publicly support it and lead the way for all private schools in the state.

15 November

I started a FB event to encourage the Aloysian community to write to Fr. Middleton on the issue, with the help of Nicholas Mueller, class of 2003 B. Psych and activitst musician, and Richard Meagher, class of 2003 B Psych and school counseller.

16 November

Seb Robertson, Class of 2003, and Tom Borger, School Captain 2003, threw their full support behind this cause.

17 November

Tom Borger, School Captain 2003, posted a special message of appeal to the Aloysian community urging their support for this event and the cause.

19 November

I contacted Fr. Frank Brennan concerning this issue and asked him to provide me and the school with honest counsel. Fr Brennan is a well respected thinker and champion for human rights and social justice, and have made statements concerning marriage equality July this year.

http://ncis.anu.edu.au/people/brennan.php​

http://www.australianmarriageequality.com/wp/2013/07/10/media-release-advocates-welcome-catholic-clerics-change-of-heart-on-marriage-equality/

20 November

The news came that the bill has been shelved indefinitely without any support from the coalition.  While disappointing, the Education Minister promised to protect vulnerable students by supporting the Board of Studies in amending the registration process for private schools and investigations into allegations of discrimination. And Alex Greenwich promised to continue to work towards protection of vulnerable students by Anti-Discrimination laws, and may even reintroduce the bill next year.

http://www.alexgreenwich.com/media_release_private_schools_now_risk_deregistration_for_discrimination

I contacted the rector Fr Hosking, Fr Middleton and Fr Frank Brennan about this news. I urged our college to welcome this news with a strong message of support for these changes to the school community and help the Board of studies make effective changes that will improve the situation for vulnerable students state-wide. I also urged the school to publicly support future bills to remove anti-discrimination exemptions.

21 November

Fr Frank Brennan contacted me with an encouraging response and told me he will discuss the issue with Fr Middleton. I suggested doing so after Fr. Middleton's Farewell celebrations on 22 November.

24 November

I started this online petition.

25 November

Seb Robertson posted his message of support on his FB profile.  I've included it for you to read.  Thanks Seb :)

2 December

Fr. Middleton issued a response to the petition in the Gonzagan.  I thanked him for the time, effort and thought he has put into the issue and his eloquent response.  It was a testament to his commitment to pastoral care for his student community even as he farewells the school.  Even though the school had yet to review and form a position on the Bill, I was glad that we agreed on the need for serious thinking and constructive dialogue rather than rash emotions.

http://www.staloysius.nsw.edu.au/newsletter/2013/2013_35.pdf

In the spirit of co-operation and finding common ground, I urged the school to reach out to the Education Minister and Board of Studies and contribute constructively to the reform of the registration process for private schools.  St. Aloysius College can offer a faith based education perspective to the dialog, which is crucial for ensuring the reforms are just and fair for all private schools in NSW.

 

My Appeal to the Aloysian Community (15 November 2013)

Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich introduced the private member's bill to State Parliament to abolish NSW's Anti-Discrimination exemptions for private schools as a measure to protect the safety and wellbeing of LGBTI students.  It will soon come to a vote but the outcome currently is still uncertain without an official position from the coalition. 

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/nswbills.nsf/131a07fa4b8a041cca256e610012de17/af913b9a9031dc07ca257bd5001e225a/%24FILE/b2013-112-d05-House.pdf​

http://www.alexgreenwich.com/ada​

http://globalcomment.com/anti-discrimination-in-new-south-wales-private-schools/

I'm not sure if you're aware of the official response from Ian Baker, the acting executive director of the NSW Catholic Education Commission and other representative bodies:

http://cathnews.com/cathnews/14700-bid-to-overturn-nsw-anti-discrimination-exemptions​

http://www.pedestrian.tv/news/home/labor-pledges-support-for-bill-seeking-to-end-disc/d68c37b0-dde1-46b3-85b0-1166fd379c84.htm

The position that enough is already being done is unacceptable, when we know as a society this is far from the truth.  This is especially in light of the recently surfaced stories from LBGTI students, statistics on youth depression and suicide, and statements from psychology experts.  Claims that the removal of the exemption would threaten schools' autonomy over enrollment and staff appointment is a completely unfounded because NSW's Anti-Discrimination Act does NOT even prohibit discrimination based on an individual's religious practices or belief, nor will the Bill remove current exemptions for religious groups that allow them to discriminate against employees.  And the idea that our ability to exercise our "freedom of religion", "human rights" and "ethos" hinges on the 'right' to discriminate against vulnerable members of our community, is completely absurd.

http://www.antidiscrimination.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adb/adb1_antidiscriminationlaw/adb1_types.html​

http://www.emilford.com.au/page.asp?id=91&pv=%AD%A5

As an old boy of Aloysius, I don't feel this attitude reflects what my experience of what a Jesuit education promotes.  In my mind its ethos has always been about an active commitment to social justice especially for the vulnerable and the need to continually inform and form one's conscience through continual education and engagement with the world.  It is nurtured through programs like compulsory community service for all students, gap year program at Xavier College in Micronesia and student immersion program to the Philipines. It is encouraged though involvements in other organisations like the Jarjum College in Redfern, Jesuit Refugee Service and the Benenson Society.  We have always been encouraged to be the vectors for social justice, equality and progress, not be the ones arresting their development.  I'm sure most of you know that many of our classmates went on after school to champion these causes, like James Woodward (Mr. Lunch Time Amnesty International letter writing back at school), who founded Kickstart Kids International.  This is why even as a non-religious gay individual I still hold my Jesuit education as an essential part of my core being and have nothing but affection for our school.

Upon contacting Father Middleton, I was heartened to learn that an open and inclusive culture is being fostered and the commitment to social justice is being upheld.  This year one boy brought his same-sex partner to the year 11 formal and probably 2 boys will at the year 12 formal.  He personally took an interest to make sure there was and will be no hostility shown towards these individuals.  He also discussed amongst the prefects to have an explicit treatment of homophobia in their anti-bullying programme.

The crucial next step is for our school to break rank and come out publicly and officially in support of the bill.  However the school needs to have your support to speak on your behalf.

So I implore you to show our support for our school to come out in support of the bill, and reassure him that the school community would not only support him but would show a renewed faith, enthusiasm and participation in the school.  Our school has the opportunity to lead all private schools in NSW and be a champion for social justice as well as Pope Francis' renewed focus on pastoral care.

Sincerely,

Victor Wu (Class of 2003)

 

Special message from Thomas Borger, School Captain 2003 (17 November 2013)

Dear class mates and wider Aloysian community,

Having attended such an inclusive and welcoming school, it is difficult to believe that private schools and private education institutions in NSW are protected by exemptions in the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 that allow them to discriminate against students in ways that are unlawful for public schools, that being by transgender, marital or domestic status, disability and homosexuality. 

St Aloysius College in no way takes these exemptions as an excuse to freely discriminate against vulnerable individuals of the student community. In fact, it has made tremendous efforts especially in recent years to foster an open and inclusive environment for all its students. Unfortunately, not all attendees of private education institutions experience the same inclusive environment, in particular LGBTI individuals.

In an attempt to ensure equality for all students in all education institutions, Alex Greenwich, the independent member for Sydney, introduced the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Private Educational Authorities) Bill 2013 to NSW State Parliament. The Bill will make private education institutions subject to the same laws that make discrimination unlawful in public schools.

I believe St Aloysius College, a beacon of social justice within the education system and a leader among schools in New South Wales, should put it's weight behind this Bill to show support for all students in New South Wales. By doing so, the school would be demonstrating that it supports the equal rights of students across the entire state as it does so brilliantly under its own roof.

Why do I support this bill so strongly?

Since leaving school, a number of my class mates have identified themselves as gay. I can only imagine the difficulty these young men faced as they grappled with such a strong identity issue through their developmental years, especially in a Catholic, all-boys school. It must have been agonising. Indeed it must be agonising for all young adults in similar situations.

Now, I wish to put my support behind my peers who are seeking equality in the NSW private education system. 

Through these difficult times, I would expect each student to be able to confidently seek the support of any pastoral care giver, any counsellor, any tutor, any peer they feel necessary without the risk of being discriminated against as currently permitted by the NSW legal system. 

Why should the Aloysian community act? 

I am confident that discrimination of this nature would never happen at St Aloysius College. Having said that, St Aloysius has a great opportunity now to stand up and say it should never happen in any other private education provider in NSW.

We are all friends with someone who has attended a private education institution and has been at risk of being discriminated against. We can all show support for these friends by pushing to legislate the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Private Educational Authorities) Bill 2013.

For more information on the Bill, and to engage in the discussion paper, see http://www.alexgreenwich.com/ada

If you wish to show your support for the Bill, and would like the school to also support the Bill, please join the Facebook Event: "Write to Aloy's in support of the removal of NSW Anti-Discrimination for private schools (Schools will still be able to have faith considerations in enrolment and staff appointments process)"

Sincerely,

Thomas Borger

St Aloysius College, 2003
Captain of the College

 

Special message from Seb Robertson (25 November 2013) 

Why I'm backing this campaign... I was fortunate to go a very good school, not because of it's incredible sporting success (cough) but for the fact that it taught us that there was more to life than pure academics and 'winning'. That sometimes the greatest fights we will engage in are often not our own but our small contribution can make a difference. Funnily enough it's often a school that flies under the radar. But there is a rare opportunity for St Aloysius College, Sydney not to change their actions or policies but simply state their current actions in the public forum and be a leader and support the removal of NSW's anti-discrimination exemptions for private schools. 

I have no issue with the choice a parent makes to send their child to religious school. That is a right every parent should be able to make, it is their choice. Their child being gay, is not a choice. 

The school already works incredible closely with current students, esp student leaders, to create an inclusive environment for LGBTI individuals at the school. It's time to voice this openly so that other students, not fortunate to be provided the same opportunities who are faced with potential discrimination because of their sexuality. If you never intend on using the clause, then why have it there? My work for mental health awareness has opened my eyes to many of the challenges facing young people, some I am personally very familiar with, others I can only empathise with but there is one thing I have learnt is that often the best fights, the most powerful fights, are when others not directly affected stand beside those who are. 

It's a small thing and might not get too far but happy to do something. 

"All students should be treated fairly and given the same opportunities regardless of their background, family make-up, sexuality or personal characteristics. School is a vital part of development and should not be a place where children and young people are subject to discrimination, unfair treatment and left exposed to abuse or bullying." Alex Greenwich, MP.