Howard’s values and Mardi Gras

FRANK BARNES contrasts the value of teachers, Mardi Gras and the Howard Government.

I suspect most of you have made the connection that when Prime Minister John Howard made his statements about "value neutral public schools" he was actually talking about 'white-Anglo (so-called) Christian values'. If there were any doubt of this, it became more obvious when his henchman did some of his work for him. For instance, Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson accused teachers in state-run schools of pushing a pro-gay agenda. He said the teacher unions were "pushing lines" on issues such as the environment, women, homosexuality and reconciliation. "I take a traditional Christian world view; certainly I don't want those (values) undermined," Mr Anderson said.

In an article in The Australian (January 21), Kevin Donnelly, who is chief of staff to Federal Employment Minister Kevin Andrews, says: "Students are not the only ones saved from the embarrassment of being told that they may have failed. Teachers unions are also fierce critics of giving parents any information that might allow them to rank schools. According to Ken Boston, a one-time NSW Director-General of education: 'There is a conspiracy of silence and a determination to avoid making public any information which might indicate that one school is more effective than another.'

"The AEU's 2001 and 1995 policies on the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people also display a decidedly PC approach. Not only does the union argue that such groups have the right to teach sex education in schools it also states that what is taught must 'be positive in its approach' and 'enhance understanding and acceptance' of such groups," Mr Donnelly states.

Piers Akerman, in the Daily Telegraph (January 29) said the following (and more):

"One element of the AEU's policies to raise more than a few parents' eyebrows is the peculiar view that heterosexuality is not the norm. The union says there is a 'pervasive assumption of heterosexuality' in our language, law and other institutions.

"The assumption that heterosexual sex and relationships are 'natural' or 'normal' and practised by all members of the community leads to legal and social invisibility for GLBT people.

"A GLBT is not a grilled lettuce-bacon-and-tomato sandwich. It is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender person, one of the objects of the union's ideological obsessions. In line with this bizarre attempt at social engineering, it's unsurprising that the AEU also believes (without citing evidence) that past government policies have been directed at attempting genocide, and rejects any notion of mutual obligation or work for the dole, deeming them punitive and counter productive. Despite the failure of harm minimisation and the success of zero tolerance-based drug policy, the AEU not unexpectedly supports the drug strategies that emphasis harm minimisation," the Piers Akerman article states.

And while there have been many supportive letters around the state there have also been some fairly extraordinary statements. In one letter to The Border Mail (February 16) the writer says: "Well, the Australian Education Union rejects the fact that heterosexual relationships are natural and normal. Why are junior primary school children told the Government is naughty because it takes Aboriginal infants from their parents?"

So, where does that put Mardi Gras? Well Mardi Gras is still a positive celebration for gay and lesbian people. It offers hope to young gays and lesbians to help them establish their identities in a society where more and more young people commit suicide because they are gay or lesbian and cannot cope. Some people are bullied, bashed and in some cases even murdered. If one life is saved through Mardi Gras it is worthwhile.

Mardi Gras also highlights the increasing number of young gay men who are become infected with HIV. The statements from Howard, Anderson and their henchman don't help anyone .... but Mardi Gras might.

Frank Barnes is an Organiser in Western Sydney and is a Convenor of the Gay and Lesbian Special Interest Group (dapsig). If you wish to join please contact Frank at Federation.