Australia is aiming to ban private or religious schools from expelling students based on their sexuality, prime minister Scott Morrison said last week.
“I will be taking action to ensure amendments are introduced as soon as practicable to make it clear that no student of a non-state school should be expelled on the basis of their sexuality,” Morrison said.
Although parliament supported Morrison’s call to repeal legal exemptions that allow religious schools to discriminate, several school leaders have spoken against the issue.
The body representing the state’s catholic schools said that while it opposes banning gay students, the issue is more complicated with staff and employment-related matters, as they should have the freedom to hire staff who abide by the school’s mission and values.
The matter is still under consideration.
The topic of discrimination against the LGBT was similarly contentious in Singapore just last month after education minister Ong Ye Kung said that there is “no discrimination [against the community here] at work, housing [and] education”.
“However, on the issue of LGBTQ, it is also an issue of social mores and societal values,” he said.
His comment was met with backlash, with an executive director at a non-profit working with LGBTQ, Oogachaga citing reports that went against Ong’s observation.
The study found that 60% of individuals have had homophobic experiences in Singapore, most of which were in school. Bullying and harassment in schools and online were commonly cited by the respondents.
“Let us also recognise and acknowledge that experiences of discrimination are very real for the LGBTQ community in Singapore,” said Leow Yangfa, executive director at Oogachaga.
“As a developed first world country, the responsibility lies in everyone of us – government, community, individuals – to eradicate that and ensure equality for all Singaporeans.”