今日吃瓜

Moreton Bay Boys鈥� College,听an elite private school on Brisbane’s east side, has drawn criticism after it was revealed that students听are being taught from a听book which suggests that God hates homosexuals and links听homosexuality to both poor parenting and childhood sexual abuse.

The controversial sex education book also discusses how LGBTQI youth can 鈥渟uccessfully鈥� become heterosexual and describes people with ambiguous genitalia as 鈥渇reaks鈥� 鈥� in its religion classes.

Written by Belinda Elliott Teen Sex By The Book听is听as a companion to a paperback authored by doctor-turned-sexologist Patricia Weerakoon, an evangelical Christian in her 70s who was raised in Sri Lanka.听The 64 page book does not appear on any other reading list at any other Queensland School besides the MBBC sister school Moreton Bay College.

Speaking with the Courier Mail听the mother of a听Year 10 student said the book was, 鈥渉omophobic and incites hate.”

“The school should be teaching acceptance, consideration and kindness, especially now as same-sex marriage is legal,鈥� she said, declining to be named. “It鈥檚 outdated and very sad and it should be taken off the syllabus.鈥�

听Students are asked to consider various statements such as 鈥淕od hates homosexuals鈥� and are asked if people are 鈥渂orn gay鈥� or 鈥渃hoose to be gay.鈥�

They learn from the book that 鈥渟ome people with same-sex attraction may be predisposed to this by some gene-hormonal-immune interaction鈥� and others are influenced by their childhood 鈥� 鈥減arenting, experiences in growing up, the sad instances of abuse, especially sexual abuse and peer group pressures make a big difference.鈥�

Head of college, Andrew Holmes when asked why the school was using the handbook and whether it was relevant in 2020 said it contained, 鈥渢hought-provoking statements used as a springboard for discussion,” before adding, “In class the boys are encouraged to question the views in the handbook and share their own thoughts and opinions.”

Publisher听Anglican Youthworks when contacted said the resource was not used elsewhere in Queensland and was in 鈥渁 mere handful of faith-based independent schools鈥� and that its traditional teachings were thousands of years old and therefore not surprising to be incorporated in a Christ-centred school, but the book would not be part of its 2021 curriculum offering because it had 鈥渞un its course.”