IDAHOBIT 2022

IDAHOBIT 2022: Over 30 Years of Rainbows

On Tuesday May 17, we will acknowledge IDAHOBIT, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia. Here at St Joseph’s College, we recently raised the rainbow flag during Harmony Week and we can’t wait to fly those rainbow colours again. 

The world is a diverse place and we want there to be no doubt that we value our LGBTIQ+ students and their families. The college stands as a proud ally to those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and more. People of different races, nationalities, faiths, and levels of ability enrich our learning community.  

We’re not alone, either. Schools all over Australia and our region share the same feelings. Both our governing body, Mercy Education Limited, and the Ballarat Diocese encourage and endorse the efforts schools make to develop inclusive policies and practices to support LGBTIQ+ students.

Earlier in the year, Principal Marg Blythman was interviewed by Sunraysia Daily on how a Catholic college like St Joseph’s navigates issues around gender and sexuality in a student context. Here’s what she had to say:

We believe that no child should be subjected to discrimination because of their gender, identity, or pronoun and that every student should feel safe at school and have freedom from discrimination.

As an inclusive faith community, we acknowledge that we are all made in the image and likeness of God and created with love. All genders and sexualities are therefore respected, accepted and welcome in the St Joseph’s College community. (As per our Gender Identity Policy.)

At St Joseph’s College we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our college. Our commitment is drawn from and inherent in the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the gospel (CECV Commitment Statement to Child Safety).

Next week, students will represent the college at an IDAHOBIT event organised by Mallee Pride in the Langtree riverfront area. We’ll be sharing snapshots on Instagram and the Principal’s Blog, so keep your eyes peeled.

To learn more about the clear commitment St Joseph’s College has made to LGBTIQ+ students, read our Student Gender Identity Policy, Debutante Ball Policy & Child Safe Policies.