The tragic suicide of Tyrone Unsworth, a gay, 13-year-old student from Brisbane, Australia has sparked the push for change in Australian schools. The story published by ABC News Australia depicts the extent of the homophobic bullying that had been “continuing from year five” , which has started a new campaign to implement LGBTQI+ educational program Safe Schools .
An educational program curated to fit in with the Australian health and P.E curriculum, the Safe Schools Program aims to reduce LGBTQI+ bullying and educate students and teachers on issues that affect LGBTQI+ students.
The program has caused controversy in parliament earlier this year with conservative senators such as Cory Bernardi claiming that the program ‘intimidates’ children to conforming to the ‘homosexual agenda.’
Since February this year news about the program has been quiet, until now.
It’s deplorable that people still reject and oppose this program in the light of the suicide of a boy not yet 14. The extreme of death should not be the turning point for people suddenly to decide that change is needed to stop bullying, but that is what it has come to. Tyrone’s suicide is not a secluded event as Micah Scott, CEO of LGBTQI+ youth organisation Minus18, has said, “Tyrone’s experience isn’t an isolated incident…It is shared by LGBTI young people around Australia. I think that is really important to highlight.” Thus as Tyrone’s death may have been recorded as a tipping point, the suffering of other LGBTQI+ youth in Australia has not gone unnoticed through recognition of the advantages of the Safe Schools Program.
It has been made abundantly clear that change is needed to stop bullying and to prevent any more deaths at the hands of bullying, LBGTQI+ students and youth must be protected.
We, as a country, have not protected Tyrone.
It is up to us now to stop these deaths and create an inclusive, supportive environment for LGBTQI+ youth to grow and thrive in.
