Children to be taught 'heterosexuality not the norm' in Australian schools project
SYDNEY,– Australian school children are to be told that heterosexuality is not the norm, according to a new education department pilot program called “Proud Schools.” “ Heterosexism ” is one of the evils that the Proud Schools program is intended to stamp out, along with “homophobia and transphobia,” education officials have said. According to the minutes from the Proud Schools steering committee on March 22, 2011, the program focuses on reversing “the dominance of heterosexism rather than on homophobia.” The program defines “heterosexism” as the practice of “positioning heterosexuality as the norm for human relationship,” according to the Proud Schools Consultation Report. “It involves ignoring, making invisible or discriminating against non-heterosexual people, their relationships and their interests. Heterosexism feeds homophobia.” The committee suggested that teachers must monitor the playground in order to stamp out “heterosexist” language among children in out-of-class hours.