A QLD Christian School Is Forcing Parents To Sign A Harmful Student Gender Identity Contract

A Brisbane private school is forcing parents to sign a contract confirming their child will identify as the gender they were assigned at birth in order to be enrolled in the school. The contract highlights how Australia’s religious freedom laws don’t do enough to protect vulnerable people.

Citipointe Christian College — located in Cairndale, Queensland — announced the new rule less than a week before the commencement of the 2022 school year, noting that homosexuality and bisexuality are “destructive to relationships and society”.

“We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including but not limited to” adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, bisexual acts, bestiality, incest, paedophilia, and pornography) is sinful and offensive to God and is destructive to relationships and society,” the contract reads.

Under the amended enrolment contract, Citipointe, which charges $8580–$12180 per child per year, reserves the right to terminate a child’s enrolment at the school based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sexual activity.

“Whilst each student is individually valued and equally encouraged to pursue opportunities in both academic and co-curricular activities, I/we agree that, where distinctions are made between male and female (inclusive of, but not limited to, for example, uniforms, presentation, terminology, use of facilities and amenities, participation in sporting events and accommodation) such distinctions will be applied on the basis of the individual’s biological sex,” a clause in the contract reads.

“The Parents acknowledge and accept that, should I/we not share the college’s commitment to fostering these fundamental doctrinal precepts, this will constitute a serious departure from the religious precepts upon which Citipointe Christian College is based and will afford Citipointe Christian College the right to exclude a student from the College who no longer adheres to the College’s doctrinal precepts including those as to biological sex.”

According to The Courier Mail, Citipointe Principal Brian Mulheran sent an email to the school community on Friday, in which he stated the school sought legal advice and was able to add new clauses into the contract for religious reasons.

In just two days, more than 30,000 people have signed a petition calling for Citipointe to recall the amended contract.

Following the backlash, Citipointe has released a statement clarifying it would not make a decision on a child’s enrolment simply based on sexuality or gender identity, despite reserving the right to do just that.

“We are seeking to maintain our Christian ethos and to give parents and students the right to make an informed choice about whether they can support and embrace our approach to Christian education,” said Mulheran.

“Citipointe does not judge students on their sexuality or gender identity and we would not make a decision about their enrolment in the College simply on that basis.

“We believe each individual is created in the image of God, with dignity and worth equal to every other person. We unequivocally love and respect all people regardless of their lifestyle and choices, even if those choices are different to our beliefs and practice.”

The new contract comes after months of backlash towards the Morrison government’s proposed new religious discrimination bill, which many have criticised for not going far enough to protect students from these sorts of situations.  The controversial bill is yet to be passed, but even without it, Citipointe is still able to implement these harmful policies.