This article was originally published in 'The Westsider' on 1st December, 2024
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has launched a campaign against the State Government’s ‘Respectful Relationships’ program, distributing fliers in Brimbank letterboxes rife with disinformation. Developed in response to the Royal Commission into Family Violence, the program emphasises the essential role schools play, in fostering respect and reducing gender-based violence.
ACL alleges that the program “indoctrinates kids with Gender Fluidity,” linking it to an increase in students identifying as non-binary and rising gender clinic waitlists. Their campaign further accuses the program of contributing to declining educational standards and performance without providing evidence, instead promising additional leaflets.
Advocacy groups have condemned ACL’s actions. The Victorian Pride Centre described the campaign as harmful, stressing that "Spreading misinformation about inclusive education programs like 'Respectful Relationships' is harmful, particularly for LGBTIQA+ children who rely on safe, accepting environments to thrive.” Dr. Son Vivienne, CEO of Transgender Victoria, voiced similar concerns, stating that they see “this messaging by the ACL causing great harm to gender diverse young people alongside their friends, families and allies”
Online, Brimbank’s response has been divided. The ‘Brimbank Community’ Facebook group saw posts about the fliers spark heated debate, with admins forced to remove inflammatory comments spreading anti-LGBTQIA+ misinformation. Amidst the tension, one resident tried to clarify, noting confusion between the Safe Schools and Respectful Relationships programs. Others highlighted the harm these narratives cause to genderqueer youth, with one parent remarking, “I'm so glad my non-binary young person hasn't had to see this crap. They struggled enough with revolting, old-fashioned bigotted [sic] behaviour from kids who could have done with learning how to let everyone exist”
This is not the first time Brimbank’s rainbow community has faced targeted attacks. During this year’s local government election, candidates aligned with Peter Coventry, treasurer of the anti-abortion lobby group Pro-Life Victoria, campaigned on exclusionary “natural family” values and pledged to rid libraries of so-called “adult” or “questionable content for our children.” This rhetoric is often employed by conservative campaigners to push for bans on queer literature and drag story-time in public libraries. Yet despite strong public opposition to these views, one of Coventry’s candidates secured her re-election into Brimbank City Council.
Global context compounds local concerns. In a year where Donald Trump has returned to the U.S. presidency, advancing anti-trans policies and vowing to further criminalise abortion, Brimbank’s LGBTQIA+ residents are understandably alarmed. The ACL’s campaign represents not just a local issue, but a broader struggle against the rise of harmful narratives targeting inclusion and equality.
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