Gay, lesbian and transgender students are being given a louder voice at a Hoppers Crossing school.
Year 11 students Rachel Pulman and John Moffitt have set up Hoppers Crossing Secondary College’s first equal opportunity council.
They say the council’s goal is to provide a safe and supportive avenue for all students regardless of gender identity or sexuality, cultural background or religious beliefs.
“It’s basically for every student, no matter what their background,” Rachel said. “You don’t have to fit a criterion. If you’re an advocate for human rights you can join.”
Senior programs manager at the college, Eden St James, said he was proud that Rachel and John had thought of creating the council.
“We’re finding that more and more of the students are open about [being gay or bisexual] and are willing to talk about it,” he said.
“It’s been really good and really brave of Rachel and John to stand up and do this.
“Even though the response has been positive, there will always be kickback and that can be pretty daunting.”
Now the school will use the council as an opportunity to run safe-sex information sessions and dispel some of the myths around same-sex relationships.
“We just really want to create an atmosphere of tolerance in the school and promote acceptance,” Rachel said.
Mr St James said one of the main things teachers were keen to fight at the school was a culture of saying “that’s so gay”.
A promotion day will be held on Thursday, June 19, to inform the entire school about the council.
