Melbourne school won't allow gay partners at formal

Another private boys school has followed the lead of Brisbane's Anglican Church Grammar by annoucing they will not allow boys to take same sex partners to formals.

Headmaster Mark Merry from Marcellin College in Melbourne said the school wants students to bring a female or come alone.

"We would expect that it would be a female guest, being a boys school and we invite females for a gender balance," he said.

Mr Merry said the school would not allow boys to bring same-sex partners because the move would not be supported by the school community.

However, Scotch College in Adelaide said it had no restrictions on students who want to take same-sex partners to college events and they support openly gay students.

Deputy principal Craig Rogers said the school promotes student freedoms and the students themselves are very supportive of same sex couples.

"We've had students who are openly gay and it hasn't had an effect on their happiness in the school," he said

"It's a non-issue to be honest."

The debate on whether gay students should be allowed to bring their partners comes as the head of the Anglican Church said it supports the Brisbane school Churchie's decision to ban the practice.

Archbishop Phillip Aspinall said the school had the right to create a ban if they felt it was necessary.

"I think that's a reasonable and legitimate approach for a school to take," he said.

The archbishop said he had no objection to the school's approach to "emphasise the interaction between young men and young women".

However, Dr Aspinall said he had no "personal objection" to other schools who decide to allow students to take same sex partners to school formals.

Deputy principal Rogers said from his previous experience at an all boys school, it would be the students who would have more problems with same sex couples than the staff.

"Sometimes I think it can be that the administration is scared of what will happen to that student," he said.

User comments

These private schools should not discriminate against their gay students. Keep in mind that these schools receive money from the government, and are not strictly private entities to begin with. Remove the ban on same-sex partners or give back the money to the government.

The comments in this thread disturb me, I really thought we had eliminated this level of homophobia. Being gay is perfectly acceptable and natural.

God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve and certainly not Anna and Eve. There seems to be a lot of confusion in society today. Homosexual, transexual, bi-sexual, travestite, paediphilia, incestuous relationships, rapists, etc. the lists goes on. What next are we going to accept one day? its okay for paedophilia? Stop the confusion and start accepting what is natural and normal, male and female together is the only normal that is normal, none of this other garbage.

I cannot believe that i have read this terrible thing about encouraging school kids to attend their school formals with their same sex partners. In life opposites attract. For something to work with batteries you need a positive and a negative. In life you need a male an female to produce a child. When is society going to realise this is not natural and it is wrong. Its bad enough with consenting adults, now we are encouraging school age teenagers that its okay to be gay. What is the world coming to. Don Dunstan the premier of SA pushed his own agenda regarding homosexuality and now we have a deputy principal doing the same. Isnt it amazing when people are going down the wrong track, how they want to drag as many people with them for their own gratification. Wake up parents and stop allowing other to influence your children, you be the main influencers of their lives not some random principal.

It is about time that schools take a stand in stamping out this outdated notion that being gay is wrong. I am a recent school leaver (2005) and i was forced to hide my sexuality from everyone at school because i went to a catholic school. I am openly bisexual and proud of it! but at school, even mentioning the rights of homosexual couple brough about long debates which always ended in 'the bible says its wrong' I am glad to hear a christian school is setting a good example. i hope more follow.

I am totally for schools allowing students to take same sex partners to school functions, such as end of year formals etc. It is only because of the church's ignorance, and some peoples narrow-mindedness that we have a society that is so judgemental about peoples sexuality. I think it is about time that we all accepted that these people are born this way, and it is NOT a choice that is made on their part. The sooner we learn this, the better. We have come a long way in terms of rights for women and African-American people, it is long overdue that we do the same for same-sex oriented people. After all, we are all human beings.

I think this is the best decision the principal could have made! it is a testament to the open society that we are becoming... people act like being gay is a disease - whereas infact it is just sexuality...we need to allow young people to express themselves in a safe, supportive environment and by allowing same sex partners were are creating an acceptance that should be "normal" and just the way it is. Great work churchie...keep leading the way and supporting your students - you cant change who they are.

I think this story is great about students being able to take same sex partners if they like, I think it should be allowed in any school. By not permitting this you are saying its wrong and some kids will feel ashamed and will go on with there lives living a lie which is not right, if that’s the way they feel that’s the way they feel you cannot change someone just like they would not change your decision. If i were to have a child who were gay i would make sure they did not hide that but be proud of it and to not let anyone tell them otherwise. You hear so much about gay men and how wrong it is but you don't seem to hear much about gay women its seems men don't find that wrong at all. I say good on you Scotch College and lets hope other schools follow!!!

I thinkm this is a great step forward. I am a recent school leaver (5yrs) and felt uncomfortable in the school system accepting my sexuality. With schools becoming more accepting and encouraging tolerance, it will increase understanding of differences, and can only be regarded as a step forward.

i dont get why so many people have a problem with same sex couples... its a natural thing... just cuz they prefer people of the same sex as them doesn't give us reason to frown apone them. Good on the school for letting them bring same sex couple. its about time the government and people stopped saying its wrong and discriminating against them. its not fair on them.

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