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ACON, the leading health agency for NSW’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, has commended government efforts to improve the lives of gay and lesbian students in the state’s public school system.
The move follows a rejection by Education Department head Michael Coutts-Trotter of ludicrous reports about a campaign by “the gay lobby” to ban words such as “mum”, “dad”, “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” in a bid to reduce discrimination in schools.
The report was published in the wake of a NSW Anti-Homophobia Interagency conference in Sydney yesterday about reducing bullying and increasing acceptance of diversity in schools. The conference was addressed by a range of guest speakers including Mr Coutts-Trotter. ACON staff were part of the event’s organising committee.
ACON CEO Stevie Clayton supported a statement from Mr Coutts-Trotter saying the reports were “simply untrue”.
“I was actually at the conference and there was never any official call or resolution made to ban anything,” she says. “What was discussed were a range of broad-based strategies to help students feel safe and included when they’re at school and these did not involve imposing any kind of new politically correct language."
Ms Clayton says the real issue is about providing a secure and friendly environment that allows all students to meet their full potential, regardless of their gender, religion, cultural background or, in this case, their sexuality.

“The NSW Government recognises this and that’s why they have in place a range of programs and initiatives to help develop the kind of supportive environment to which students are entitled,” she says.
“However, we’d like to see more done to help gay and lesbian students because the levels of homophobic bullying in schools is alarmingly high,” she says. “In a recent survey of same-sex attracted youth, it was found that 44% had been subject to verbal abuse because of their sexuality, 16% to physical abuse, and that 74% of all abuse occurred in a school environment. This makes schools one of the most dangerous places for gay and lesbian youth.
“On top of this, gay and lesbian youth are three to four times as likely to attempt suicide compared to their heterosexual peers and many studies have identified that the discrimination and marginalisation faced by gay and lesbian youth leads to poor mental health.
“Educating students, both gay and straight, about acceptance, inclusion and tolerance is a vital first step to creating a safe environment in our schools.”


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