Gay School Boys

Gay school students are a fact of life. Now, at one of Brisbane's most prestigious Anglican boys schools, students are demanding the right for graduating students to bring their boyfriends to the school prom.


Ian Johnson, Out Now
April 13, 2008

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TOPICS: Gay school boys. Churchies - Anglican High School Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Anglican Church Grammar School - Churchie school and gay boys. Equality. Equal rights for gay students. Brisbane Anglican Church Grammar School students demand the right for gay boys to bring their boyfriends to the school formal.

Gay School Boys.

Now there's a title likely to stir the blood of any conservative person that may fear the social progress of lesbian and gay people.

In Brisbane, Australia, one of the most prestigious boys schools in the country has a debate on its hands: from the student body on one hand -- saying they want gay boys at the school to be able to bring their boyfriends to the school prom -- and the school authorities on the other side, who seem to be somewhat 'caught in the headlights' and not quite sure how to deal with the student body requesting such a thing.

Equality for the boys in 2008? Who would have thought?

It is not even gay students leading the call.

In an echo of US schools GSA -- Gay-Straight Alliance groups -- students at the Anglican Church Grammar school pushing for this are not gay, but think it wrong that their gay friends at school are not treated equally in being allowed to bring the date of their choice to the school dance.

The simple fact is that increasingly gay and lesbian youth are coming out as gay at a younger age, and another 'fact of life' is that gay and lesbian school boys and girls are a reality of life for all students in the modern school playground.

If you think about it - this development makes sense.

The ages at which most people come to terms with their sexuality -- around 13, 14, 15 years of age -- is also the time when they are likely to begin forming relationships with the objects of their affection. In this regard students at the school in question -- Churchie High School in Brisbane -- are no different to schools the world over.

As society develops, more people generally have become accepting of gay relationships. That leads to an environment where gay kids can increasingly feel they can safely take their tentative first steps to declaring to the world they are lesbian or gay.

Whereas this used to happen (when I was that age) not until university, today it happens more and more at school age. But it is still a time that can be filled with fear and risk from the perspective of the gay student. How much worse it must feel to be told by those in authority that your honesty and integrity are not welcome at an official school event. Being forced to play straight for the night does nothing to make those kids feel accepted as equal by their school and their peers.

In the case of Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane, the lines have now been clearly drawn it seems.

According to the local mainstream news media in Brisbane, a Churchie's student who is not gay raised it with teachers as several of the gay school boys want to bring their boyfriends to the school formal on June 19:

"Let's take this to the administration on the first day back next term. Demand an end to this oppression of the only remaining minority that is still legal to oppress."

School Headmaster Jonathan Hensman appears to be opposed:

"The senior dinner dance is an opportunity for our young men to escort a young woman in a formal school environment."

Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Susan Booth said discrimination on the grounds of sexuality was unlawful and the school is included within these anti-discrimination laws.

The storm brewing could have been one conducted in a teacup, rather on the global media stage if the authorities at the school had let the student body treat all its own members as equally entitled to choose their partners for the dance.

It is important to remember that while it may be getting easier for gays and lesbians to be themselves at school - a decision to come out to friends and family is still a difficult one for most gay people of whatever age, and these kids really deserve to be supported for their decision to be openly gay - not told by their headmaster that they are somehow 'wrong'.

Low self-esteem for any teenage school student is something that should be doggedly guarded against, and gay and lesbian students are surely as deserving as any other student to be treated with respect and equality.

What kind of message does it send to gay kids at Churchie Anglican School to say to them you are not welcome to be yourself in ways other students can? Children of that age need to be encouraged and nurtured, not told that such a fundamental part of who they are is 'unacceptable' to the school.

This issue is not about morals - it mostly resolves into good schooling, and doing what is best for the intellectual and emotional development of each child.

On a pure legal analysis -- with thanks to Stephen Page of Harrington Family Lawyers in Brisbane -- the school would seem to be breaking the laws of Queensland if it tries to enforce a ban on same gender partners at the formal.

It remains to be seen whether the wish for equal treatment for the gay students at Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane is going to come true -- here's hoping that all students get to bring the date of their own choice to the school formal this June 19. A special night for any person - including this school's gay and lesbian students.

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