Teachers To Vote On Homosexual Discrimination... (Press, 14 August 1986)

On 14 August 1986, the Post-Primary Teachers' Association (P.P.T.A.) in New Zealand presented a significant discussion paper titled "Issues of Equality," which aims to prohibit discrimination against homosexual and lesbian teachers. This move is set to be voted on by Canterbury post-primary teachers the following day. The paper follows a remit from the association's previous national conference that advocated for safeguarding the rights of homosexual and lesbian educators. The proposal has already received backing from teachers in Auckland. The recommendations within the paper stipulate that there should be no discrimination based on sex, race, religion, political beliefs, marital or parental status, sexuality, or age in the work environment. Furthermore, it argues for equal entitlements for compassionate leave, removal expenses, and rental housing for all teachers, equivalent to those benefits provided to married educators. The paper also encourages members of P.P.T.A. to counter derogatory language used against homosexuals and lesbians, advocating for a positive representation of homosexuality in educational materials. However, the recommendations have sparked criticism. Wendy Anderson, president of a group called Women for Life, expressed concerns that the changes might lead to the promotion of homosexuality in schools under the guise of education. She accused the P.P.T.A. of attempting to introduce such ideas covertly. In response, P.P.T.A. president Peter Allen reassured that educators will adhere to their ethical guidelines that prevent them from imposing personal social views on students. He emphasised that teachers of human relationships are well-trained and do not promote personal values. Allen clarified that the revisions are designed to ensure no group is depicted negatively because of their sexuality, illustrating this with an example that disparaging terms should be avoided. He acknowledged that some recommendations related to conditions of service involve complexities, particularly in terms of equal treatment when it comes to relocation expenses. For instance, Allen pointed out the disparity where a woman teacher moving for promotion receives support for her family, while a male homosexual teacher might not receive the same assistance for his partner. The P.P.T.A. plans to conduct regional votes on the discussion paper before possibly presenting the results to the national conference scheduled for the end of August 1986 in Wellington.

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