‘Equality is not negotiable’: the schools embracing gender diversity

Quinn Clements, 16, is gender fluid. The pronouns they use can change but they prefer they/them.

In year 10 they came out at their all-girls religious school in Melbourne.

"Obviously that was quite nerve-racking. It's a lot to be at a single-sex school, and to be like I'm not the gender I'm supposed to be while here," they say.

Mentone Girls grammar is a Christian school in Melbourne's south. Under the Coalition's proposed religious discrimination bill, Quinn's teachers would have had the ability to expel them from the school.

"I go to a religious school that is supported by the church, and I think I am really lucky to have that support in that environment," Quinn says.

"I thought we moved past hating gay and trans people. I hoped that wasn't a thing in Australia any more but it so obviously is."

At Mentone, Quinn is accepted for who they are. They have set up weekly meetings for LGBTQ+ students to raise issues, support each other and just hang out. A teacher joins them to help liaise on any changes they want made.