A Christian school in Brisbane has become the center of criticism after it had required parents to sign a new enrollment contract that effectively prohibited gay students from applying. Under the contract, being a homosexual was considered a sin and part of the school's "immoral behavior" list that could result in expulsion.
The list also included activities such as bestiality, pedophilia, and incest as criteria for students to be expelled. The petition against the contract, which has already gained more than 100,000 signatures, stated that it effectively meant that students could be expelled because of their gender identity, sexual activity, and sexual orientation.
Citipointe Christian College reportedly sent the new enrollment contracts to parents on Friday last week. The document stated that homosexuality, including fornication, homosexual acts, bisexual acts, pornography, and adultery, are immoral and offensive to God and destructive to human society.
The school said in the contract that it would only allow students to enroll if they identify as the gender that corresponds to their biological sex. Citipointe is one of Queensland's largest private schools, with an estimated 1,700 children enrolled.
Critics against the contract claimed that it was discriminating against members of the LGBTQ community, and it is blatantly transphobic and homophobic. Several groups have demanded that the school retract its contract.
Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace, who has a non-binary kid, said that she found the stipulations in the contract "very distressing." Grace said that it is unbelievable that such things still exist in Australia, given this day and age. She added that the matter has already been brought to the Non-State School Accreditation Board for review.
The state's Anti-Discrimination Act, according to the Queensland Human Rights Commission, prohibits schools from discriminating against pupils based on their sexuality or gender identity. Schools are allowed to operate as single-sex schools, but the law prohibits them from refusing enrollment based on a student's gender identity.
School officials have stood by the contract, stating that all of its teaching and operations are in line with their religious beliefs. Officials said the bible clearly stated that marriage is between a man and a woman.
The school's principal, Pastor Brian Mulheran, said the institution has always held its Christian beliefs, and the contract merely makes that fact clear to parents and students. He added that parents and students have the right to make an informed decision, including whether or not they embrace the school's beliefs.
