Tasmanian marriage equality advocates say State Government minister, Guy Barnett, is wrong to conflate marriage equality and what is taught in Tasmanian schools.
In a video of an address Mr Barnett made recently, he says allowing same-sex couples to marry will lead to gay and lesbian sex education and gender fluidity in schools.
Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,
“What the Marriage Act says about who can and can’t marry has nothing to do with school curriculum, which is set by the State Education Department, school communities and parents.”
“Over the past three years, the Tasmanian LGBTI community has been working cooperatively with the Education Minister, Jeremy Rockliff, the Education Department and school communities to reduce levels of bullying and prejudice against all students including LGBTI students.”
“This work has included a $3 million State Government allocation to address bullying and prejudice with a focus on LGBTI issues, and it has the support of all three political parties.”
“This work has nothing whatsoever to do with sex education and gender fluidity and Mr Barnett knows this because he is part of the Government that approved it.”
“I am very disappointed that Mr Barnett seems to be misleading voters about what is, and will be, taught in Tasmanian schools in an effort to scare people away from voting “yes’.”
“There is only one question before the Tasmanian people and that is whether loving, committed same-sex couples should be able to marry.”
For Mr Barnett’s video go to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzBEAEVS4ys
Rodney Croome, Tasmanians United for Marriage Equality
