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Youth group challenges church stance |
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Written by Andrew Shaw
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Sunday, 07 September 2008 10:00 |
 Rainbows are out for a church-run Phillip Island resort.
WayOut, a regional gay and lesbian youth suicide prevention group, claim they contacted Phillip Island Adventure Resort, owned by the Christian Brethren, to enquire about renting its campgrounds in June 2007.
Upon learning that WayOut represented members of the gay and lesbian community, WayOut claim resort management indicated the board would be unwilling to allow a gay and lesbian group to use the grounds.
Clarification was sought as to reasons for the refusal, WayOut says, but none were forthcoming.
In March this year, a discrimination complaint was lodged with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC). Conciliation attempts failed in August.
WayOut has now requested that the HREOC refer the case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on the grounds of discrimination.
“One of the aims of the camp was to take some of the kids most affected by homophobia and give them a bit of a break from the abuse,” WayOut coordinator Sue Hackney said.
“It’s a bitter irony that the very first thing we experienced when we set out was a case of blatant discrimination.”
Although exemptions exist for religious organisations to discriminate on the grounds of sexuality, WayOut maintains that the Christian Brethren operate the resort as a commercial concern and so the exemption does not apply.
“If McDonald’s put up a sign on their door that said ‘No divorced people’ we’d be shocked and appalled,” Hackney said.
“We shouldn’t expect any less now just because the business in question has a church behind it.
“We welcome young people with religious beliefs and regularly work with religious groups of all types. They don’t feel the need to hide behind equal opportunity exemptions. Nor should they. It’s time to end the exemptions.”
WayOut represents approximately 16,500 young same-sex attracted people from regional Victoria, most of whom will experience homophobia at some point through their lives, including physical assault.
The Christian Brethren are collection of Protestant Evangelical churches. Core among their beliefs is that the Bible is the ultimate authority on religious matters.
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