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Newtown High School of the Performing Arts changes gender rules for uniforms
From the SMH Feb 22nd 2016
Written by
Francesca Wallace, Eryk Bagshaw
Read the entire article here….Quote:Students at a leading Sydney high school have won a battle to change their uniform policy to allow students to wear boys or girls uniforms regardless of their gender.Newtown High School of the Performing Arts students lobbied the school’s administration to have the new uniform policy implemented last week.
“Our aim was to remove the un-inclusive gender labels from the school uniform, and make it so that anyone could wear any aspect of the uniform without having to go through a long and difficult process,” said Jo Dwyer, a year 11 student at the school.
“Before the changes were implemented, students had to go through the school with parental permission and notes from psychologists before they were allowed to wear the cross gender uniform, and that wasn’t really a possibility for some students whose parents aren’t supportive of their gender identity,” he said.
While the move has been welcome by the LGBTI community, it has been condemned by Christian groups.
A spokeswoman for The Australian Christian Lobby said the school’s policy could put students’ wellbeing at risk.
“To encourage a guy to wear a dress would just be setting him up for bullying,” said spokeswoman Wendy Francis…..
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3 Replies
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As someone who is about to begin a career in the education arena I am genuinely intrigued as to how this plays out in the wider community. Is this likely to just be a one off school or will this eventually spread to more schools? Will this be the exception or the norm. I hope this becomes the norm but that’s a long way off of course. Especially when it comes to Christian schools. Of course the following question is whether this kind of policy may be followed up by one for staff? How would a school and it’s community react to having trans or gender diverse staff? But maybe that last thought is somewhat selfish of me.
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Hi,Last night 23/2/16 ABC I think, The topic of Transgender LGBT was discussed on Nation TV to have this on Prime time TV is a Big Step Forward, Well do to all
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I think the ABC discussion was an item in “The Drum”. Eric Abetz argued that having LBGTI acceptance as part of a Safe Schools anti-bullying program was tantamount to promoting a Gay or Trans lifestyle. He had issues with students wearing the other gender’s uniform. Every member of the panel jumped on him from a great height, including Jane Caro who was in raptures about Newtown High School of the Performing Arts gender rules.
Eric’s best bit was when he complained about transgirls using the girls’ toilets. He said “It might make HIM feel better but what about how the other women feel”. Then he choked when he realised what he had said.There is a huge amount of TG stuff in the media at the moment, possibly because we are in Mardi Gras season. Watch for Calpurnia Adams on One Plus One and Inside Story about a transitioning teen Thurs 7.30pm on Nine.
Also if you can find a repeat of the last Hatch, Match and Dispatch where Julia gets a name change but isn’t eligible for a gender change.
