<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/24/teacher-takes-legal-action-against-melbourne-catholic-school-group-over-refusal-of-pronouns>
"The Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (Macs) has refused to let a
non-binary teacher use their preferred pronouns and title, in a case that has
put state and federal anti-discrimination laws on a legal collision course.
Two years ago, non-binary teacher Myka Sanders – who uses they/them pronouns
and Mx for their title – asked Sacred Heart Girls College in Oakleigh,
Melbourne if their gender identity could be recognised at school.
Their employer, Macs, refused, saying it went against “the ideas of Catholic
anthropology”. Macs is the sixth-largest education organisation in Australia.
The Independent Education Union (IEU), which is supporting Sanders, took the
matter to the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal over the school
applying what they believed were unlawful actions against Myka.
But Macs successfully argued its defence relied on federal legislation so could
not be heard by the tribunal. The matter is scheduled to be heard in the
magistrates court next month.
Macs has allowed Sanders to use their chosen name, which appears on their ID
and birth certificate, but has refused to use their pronouns and deliberately
continued to use he/him, in certain instances, such as meeting minutes, Sanders
said.
“I love working with the staff there. I love working with the students. It’s
great, but it’s also really depressing, because I’m not allowed to be me,”
Sanders told
Guardian Australia.
LGBTQ+ Victorians are protected from discrimination in religious schools by the
state
Equal Opportunity Act. The act prohibits religious bodies from
discriminating against someone on the basis of their identity, unless it is
deemed “proportionate”.
But federally, the
Sex Discrimination Act holds broad exemptions for
religious schools."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
