The concept of public pedagogy (Sandlin et al. 2010) explores how societal norms are conveyed outside formal education. This framework helps to understand how religious exemptions to discrimination laws in Australian schools function as a means of teaching homophobia. Religious exemptions allow faith-based schools in Australia to exclude LGBTQIA+ students and staff based on religious beliefs, reinforcing certain values and behaviours. The Sex Discrimination Act 1984, Section 38, permits religious schools to discriminate against employees and students based on sexuality and gender identity (Ciaffaglione, 2023).

This legislation suggests that conservative religious organisations dominate public debate on religious values in Australia, but there is no clear definition of what it means to act in “good faith.” The application of this principle, influenced by the right-wing Christian lobby, normalises heterosexuality and cisgender identities as superior. These exemptions signal societal acceptance of discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals, embedding discriminatory norms beyond the school setting (Hickey-Moody et al. 2008).
For LGBTQIA+ students, these policies create a lived pedagogy of exclusion, leading to feelings of alienation and reduced well-being. Empirical data from ARC-funded research shows how young people feel their personhood conflicts with institutional values.

The lessons of homophobia taught by these exemptions extend into broader society. To reshape public debates on religion and LGBTQ+ rights, it’s argued that Australia must not privilege religious culture over human rights but instead protect the rights of all individuals through inclusive legislation.

Professor Anna Hickey-Moody is an intersectional feminist scholar, writer and creative. Her research focuses on understanding youth cultures, particularly in relation to gender, sex, race, disability, class and religion. Anna has undertaken qualitative and quantitative empirical research in Europe, the U.K and Australia. Her research has been funded by Enterprise Ireland, the Australian Research Council, the Australian Academy for the Humanities, The Arts Council UK, The Canada Research Council, The European COST Network IS1307, School Focused Youth Services, Darebin City Council Youth Services, and a range of other partners. Anna is a Professor of Intersectional Humanities at Maynooth, National University of Ireland and Professor of Media and Communication at RMIT University, Melbourne.