By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
GROUPS of activists from both sides of the ‘Safe Schools’ arguments will rally in Belgrave to march to the office of state Education Minister James Merlino on 16 and 19 March.
The Safe Schools program is funded through both federal and state governments, and is aimed at teaching students in schools about gender and sexuality diversity.
The Australian Christians party has organised the rally against the program that will see people march to the office of Mr Merlino on 16 March.
Hills-based community group, Safe in Belgrave, will be holding a rally on 19 March to show their support for the program.
Mr Merlino has publicly spoken in support of the program, and says it’s an important program to help schools create a more inclusive environment for all students.
“We know that LGBTI people in Australia have the highest rate of suicide and that same-sex attracted young people are six times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers,” he said.
“These resources make a real difference to young people who are extremely vulnerable.”
Vickie Janson, the Victorian Senate candidate for the Australian Christians party, spoke against the program for a variety of reasons including the program marginalising those outside the LGBTI community.
“Students who support decency toward all but don’t feel they can ‘celebrate’ diversity, due to their own values, norms, life experience or faith, are fearful of being labelled as ‘homophobic’ and bullied in school just because they have a different view of sexuality.
Ms Janson said the purpose of the rally was to allow parents, grandparents and concerned citizens to learn about the content of the ‘Safe Schools’ program and to have a voice in the public conversation.
“This program goes well beyond anti-bullying to promoting sexual experimentation and a casual approach to relationships and sexuality which are the cause of much heartache and depression among youth; and in some cases this leads to suicide.”
Ms Janson also confirmed the rally is aimed at changing the minds of other politicians such as Mr Merlino and premier Daniel Andrews, despite their outspoken support for the program.
“We hope that Mr Merlino and Mr Andrews will see that education should be about teaching children to think, rather than to just follow their feelings and imagine,” she said.
However, Mr Merlino has said that the Safe Schools program was important and the Victorian Government was committed to it both ideologically and financially.
“The Andrews Labor Government provided an additional $1.04m to Safe Schools Coalition Victoria (SSCV) to encourage all secondary schools to be members,” he said.
“The SSCV also receives Federal Government funding of $700,000 over three years until 2017 through the Safe Schools Coalition Australia (SSCA) initiative, which is based on the Victorian model.
Mr Merlino also said the program had been supported in the past, and accused the Federal Liberal Party of using Safe Schools as political war ground.
“The Liberal Party is using this issue to fight its own internal wars, with absolutely no consideration given to the pain and suffering they are causing LGBTI students and their families,” he said.
“The Andrews Labor Government is committed to this program because it saves lives.”
Kathleen Snowball, a representative of the Safe in Belgrave group, said their rally was about wider issues regarding empathy, compassion, acceptance and community.
“The team at Safe in Belgrave have got together in support of this program and to provide a safe space for individuals to be individuals,” she said.
“Our town is unique and we want to promote it as a safe space where people can be who they want to be.”
Ms Snowball said Safe in Belgrave supported the Safe Schools Program as it taught principles of acceptance and understanding.
“From our perspective, something that is inclusive and teaches compassion in any walk of life is only a good thing,” Ms Snowball said.
“We think safe places and compassionate communities build stronger communities and that’s what the program does.
“We see it at work in our community, and we want let the world know Belgrave is safe and we are happy to see other communities promote their safe spaces.
Ms Snowball said the rally organised by Safe in Belgrave was not about fighting the Australian Christians but about respectfully opposing them.
“The biggest thing is they have the right to protest and we have a right to say who our community is.”
