"ALRANZ shares the concerns of the Quality Public Education Coalition over the imposition of inaccurate religious
propaganda masquerading as "sex education" within some state schools," stated Craig Young, ALRANZ Research Officer
today.
Mr.Young referred to Jim Lyons and his "Straight Talk Australia" organisation, which is a fundamentalist group that had
promoted these inaccuracies at an Avondale College assembly for 550 fourth and fifth formers:
"This demonstrates the hypocrisy of the Christian Right. They object when accurate and balanced comprehensive sexuality
education guidelines are presented because unrepresentative groups of right-wing religious parents have not been
consulted, yet are willing to do exactly the same thing in other contexts when it comes to mainstream parents."
Mr.Young noted that the Education Act maintained that parents had the right to withdraw their children from such classes
if they did not approve of the content.
"We hope that the forthcoming abortion law review will provide an opportunity to address issues of accuracy and proper
scientific grounding in sex education curricula. I especially object to the message that men should not take
responsibility for their own sexual behaviour through condom use." concluded Mr.Young.
Contact: Craig Young ALRANZ Research Officer 06 3569099 ext 7750
Dr Margaret Sparrow ALRANZ National President 04 4759886
ALRANZ Box 28008 Wellington