WHY DO WE NEED ALLIES?

Our school values emphasise humility, empathy, and inclusion. We are continually growing and developing as an organisation, spurred by students, alumni, members of our community, and beyond. To gain their perspective, we reached out to some alumni with a few questions about sexual orientation and gender identity, inclusion, and allyship. Here are some of their responses:

WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR A PRESCHOOL TO G12 SCHOOL TO HAVE AN INCLUSIVE AND OPEN ENVIRONMENT, IN PARTICULAR, RELATING TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY?

I believe everyone has the right to be their truest self and that it’s important starting at a young age to teach this and acceptance.

ALUMNA (she/her) | 2011

School should be a place where you feel safe. It is much harder to focus and learn when you feel unsafe. LGBTQ+ education can start at a very early age, such as with an inclusive classroom library.

MAC (she/he/they) | 2019

LOVE IS LOVE

REFLECTING ON YOUR MULGRAVE EXPERIENCE, WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO MAKE THE SCHOOL MORE INCLUSIVE OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY DIVERSITY?

I wish for Mulgrave to consider ways that these conversations can become normalised within the school so that no student ever asks “Do I belong here?”. Even something as simple as adding pronouns to the nameplates outside of classroom doors* tells visitors what’s important in our community.

AVA THOMPSON (she/her) | 2018

*We are sharing our pronouns much more deliberately now and have begun with inclusion in our email signatures. Door signs and name badges are being updated, too.

Providing information is only one step, but integration needs to follow and that can require more creativity. It was difficult to provide exposure opportunities for students to practice genuine acceptance and inclusion when there were a limited number of ‘out’ queer people within the Mulgrave student community.

MAC (she/he/they) | 2019

WHY IS ALLYSHIP SO IMPORTANT IN A SCHOOL COMMUNITY?

Allyship is important as everyone deserves to feel like they can go and talk to someone, feel safe and heard.

ALUMNA (she/her) | 2011

What we practice in school shapes a lot of our thinking after we leave. Allyship is so important in a school community because the energy we put into that space is what we will take out of it, too, and being an ally means growing in a space where everyone knows they are welcome.

AVA THOMPSON (she/her) | 2018

Allyship isn’t just sticking a rainbow flag on the door, it’s listening to the members of that community, educating yourself, standing up for what is right. Learn the correct terminology, learn what pronouns are, learn the basics of gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. Avoid making stereotypical jokes or assumptions. By doing this, you are showing active allyship and support.

MAC (she/he/they) | 2019