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Mr Snrub's avatar

I went to BC in the early 2000’s. I too was questioning my sexuality. I had feelings of same sex attraction to women and I lived in absolute fear that I was a lesbian and all encompassing self loathing. At times I was suicidal.

I distinctly remember absolutely abhorrent homophobic lectures by teachers disguised as biblical teachings. I asked if we are all sinners and equal in the eyes of the lord why such vitriol towards gay people? Why is the school against gay people taking leadership positions in the church? The response was that gay people were worse than sinners - amoral and disgusting.

I remember one form teacher proudly stating that his pharmacist wife refused to sell the morning after pill, because it was amoral and equating it to abortion. Sex Ed was essentially shaming young women about their bodies and their sexuality.

During the time I was at BC the decriminalisation of prostitution was going through parliament. My form teacher regularly used to lecture us about how horrific he thought the bill was, blind to any harm prevention to sex workers.

I was raised in a religious home by a mother who respected queer people, women and sex workers. My mother had gay friends who used to visit regularly. After much thought, I came to the conclusion that Jesus would have also been inclusive and respectful of queer people etc.. This led me to questioning the school’s approach. I was regularly given detentions for asking these questions as I was seen as being disrespectful or disruptive. It was eventually suggested by the school that I complete my schooling elsewhere and I left BC for a fantastic public school which helped heal the damage BC created. I am no longer religious but do respect inclusive christians.

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Denis's avatar

Brilliant work , David! I can remember back in the mid seventies where Pentecostal churches were teaching “judgment begins at the house of the Lord.” Now it seems they don’t adhere to that at all. Christian churches seem beyond reproach, any criticism of them is interpreted as “persecution “ or “church bashing” , believers are told not to criticize leadership “do not touch the Lord’s anointed”, and integrated schools often funded by the tax payer have become cesspools of homophobia and bullying. Thank you David for helping to clean things up. My father in law was on the homosexual law reform committee in the early 70s. I respect him now so much for that. But although all along I was gay, I was in denial because of teaching in the church and I firmly believed my father in law was “destined for hell.” He instead helped paved the way for a huge mindset change in our nation and saved a lot of lives.

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