Damned if you do? LGBTI students and religious sexuality education

Abstract

There are currently many debates in the Australian media around the inclusion of diverse perspectives in sexuality education. How schools cater to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) students is a particular point of contention. Issues of homophobic bullying in schools, banning of same-sex couples at school formals and so-called 'cross-dressing' by students trying to express their personal gender identities have all regularly made headlines in recent years. From individual students applying for hormone suppressants and requesting to wear uniforms that better fit their sexual identities, to the Victorian lesbian couple Hannah and Savannah who made international headlines when they spoke out against the restrictions on girls taking girls to their school's dance, many individuals and pairs of students have temporarily become the latest public face of the diversity and discrimination issues in Australian schools. Sadly, many more young people have experienced these issues in relative silence for fear of recrimination or expulsion.