AOC140408_CM_article_with_Bligh_quote.htm
Archbishop
Phillip Aspinall backs Churchie
on gay ban
Article from: 
April 14, 2008 5:30pm
Article from: AAP
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23537452-3102,00.html
April 14,
2008 05:30pm
THE head
of the Anglican Church has backed a
Several of the Anglican Church
Grammar School's 215 Year 12 students want to take their gay partners to their
end-of-year dance on June 19.
However, under current policy,
the young men may only attend the ball with a female partner.
Headmaster Jonathan Hensman said the policy had never been challenged and it
had always been the tradition that boys took girls to their matriculation
dance.
However, Mr
Hensman said he was open to discussing the matter
with students and encouraged those concerned to raise the issue in writing so
he could refer it to the school council for debate.
No complaint has yet been lodged with
Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, who is president of the school council,
said he supported the headmaster's decision.
"I have no personal
objection to a school deciding to allow boys to take friends who are boys or
girls to take friends who are girls to school formals," Dr Aspinall told ABC Radio.
"But I understand in this
particular instance the school has decided that its approach is to emphasise the interaction of young men and young women and
providing them with an opportunity to do that in this kind of formal setting.
"And I have no objection to
that either. I think that's a reasonable and legitimate approach."
Dr Aspinall
said all students should be treated with respect and care.
Ms Bligh said she supported the school's decision to discuss the
issue within its community.
"These are
very difficult issues for schools to manage and I can understand why it's not a
clear-cut matter," Ms Bligh told reporters in
"Parents will
inevitably have strong views, both ways.
"I can
certainly say that as (a past) education minister I'm aware that many teachers
and many guidance officers and school support staff face the reality of talking
to young people about their sexuality.
"We can't put
our head in the sand on this.
"As young
people develop from their early teenage years through to young adulthood the
question of sexuality will emerge and it will arise."