POSTERS AND DISPLAYS ON SEXUALITY There is an increasing number of organisations (some of them Government funded) who seek to use the notice boards of our schools and colleges for the promotion of their views on sexuality, sex education, heterosexual relationships and homosexual relationships. It is the policy of the Department of Education and the Arts to give no space to advertisments of this kind whatsoever. It is particularly important that the Department and its schools and colleges do not take on the role of advisor in these areas, but restrict our contribution to the health education curriculum. In advising you, I realise that there may be members of staff who belong to organisations which promote points of view on some of these issues, and that they expect that schools and colleges will make notice boards available for displaying their points of view. The purpose of my writing is for you to advise your staff that notices about sexuality are not to be displayed in our schools and colleges. You will be aware that the community is currently divided over the issue of homosexuality. It is my desire that the school and college system remove itself from any debate on this issue, and that we do so by refraining from publicity or promotion of ay material which the public might construe to be condoning sexual relationships of either a homosexual or unlawful heterosexual nature. If you have posters up at the moment which promote homosexual or other relationships, or which encourage adolescents to create or discover such relationships, I should be pleased if you would take them down immediately. Bruce Davis Secretary. --------- Well, this was the Mercury's article on this circular Reprinted without permission from the Mercury, April 22, 1994. COLLEGE SEX POSTER BAN OUTRAGES GAYS A Government move to ban posters and displays on sexuality from senior secondary colleges has outraged the Tasmanian gay community. The move has also been condemned by State Labor Leader Michael Field and Family Planning Tasmania. Secretary of Education and the Arts Bruce Davis sent all principals a memorandum saying an increasing number of organisations were seeking to use school and college notice boards to promote their views on sexuality, sex education and heterosexual and homosexual relationships. "It is the policy of the Department of Education and the Arts to give no space to advertisments of this kind whatsoever," Mr Davis said in his memo. Education minister John Beswick released a statement late yesterday endorsing the memo. THe line in the memo that outraged the Tasmanian Gay ad Lesbians Rights Group was Mr Davis's statement that: "You will be aware that the community is currently divided over the issue of homosexuality. It is my desire that the school and college system remove itself from any debate on the issue..." Gay and lesbian rights group spokesperson Lavinia Savell (Laurie 8 note. Sorry Lavinia for being rude to you on the phone when you called up wanting a copy of the memo. Please pick better times to call in the future) said the ban would prevent access by gays to information and counselling support. Family planning executive director Paul Duncombe said the directive was an attmpt at censorship. Mr Field said trying to divorce education from issues of values and moral judgements was to try and teach in a vacuum. "To try and preveni in an educational institution opinions from being expressed by young adults ignores the fact that the issue is already plastered all over newspapers and on television (Laurie 8 note - he forgot Internet!!!!) almost every day," he ssaid. Mr Beswick said students should not be used as pawns in a political argument. A government spokesman said the directive was aimed at teachers to remind them not to indulge in the debate on controversial sexual issues. It was not directed at counsellors, guidance officers or similar staff. Earlier in the day, three gay activists brought the House of Assembly to a standstill for five minutes by throwing streamers into the chamber and letting off bon bons (Laurie 8 note - Richardm Nick and Jason - if you'd invited more people it would have been a great party, I'm upset I missed out on this one). Premier Ray Groom said the material hit some people in the public gallery, and although no one was hurt, it underlined the need for greater security in Parliament. YOung Liberals have sent a memo to Liberal MPs urging them to rethink their stand on decriminalising homosexual acts between consenting adults. --------- Here is a fax from Jeff Briscoe, Tasmanian Greens, Friday April 22. SEX DISCUSSION TO BE REFERRED TO OMBUDSMAN The new ban by the Tasmanian Government on distributing sex law reform information on college noticeboards is to be challlened before the State Ombudsman. Student counsellor and teacher Jeff Briscoe made the application today in an attempt to have the ban ober-ruled. Mr Briscoe who is a counsellor at Hobart College said te ban imposed by Secretary of the Education Department, Bruce Davis, was dangerous, and would lead to greater confusion and oppression of some students. "This edict from Minister John Beswick, through Bruce Davis, is really about imposing the morals of an older generation on younger people. YOung people don't need to be told what to do, the need as much information as possible so that they can work it out for themselves." Mr Briscoe said that students confused about their sexuality would be most affected by the ban. "This is an official condemnation of them and will lead to greater stress and unhappiness in a significant number of college students." Mr Briscoe said he was concerned at the bredth of the notice which in effect bans discussion and information on any subject relating to student sexuality. Mr Briscoe said that the Ombudsman had over-ruled Mr Davis two years ago when he had tried to outlaw condom vending machines in schools. "I am hoping that the Ombudsman again steps in and rules Mr Davis and John Beswick out of order." ---------