THE State Government has backed away from a statewide policy to support transgender, gay and lesbian students, with supporting materials “for principals’ consideration” set to be provided instead.

The Newman Government said giving principals the ability to address situations on a case-by-case basis would better assist students and would be more practical than a one-size-fits all policy statement.

The initial policy statement on “Supporting Same Sex Attracted, Intersex or Transgender Students at School” – the first of its type in Queensland – was published on a Government website last year, but later pulled down “to review the content”.

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The draft policy statement encouraged state schools to have boy-girl sporting teams, gender neutral uniforms and consider scheduling physical education classes to cut down on the number of clothes changes required.

A briefing note to Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek notes there are “contentious views associated with gender diverse and same-sex attracted students”.

“There have been various views about this issue, with some views that schools need to be more supportive of gender diverse or same-sex attracted students, and other views that are opposed to recognising these issues,” the departmental note states.

One of the main changes to the redrafted and renamed “Supporting Gender Diverse and Same-Sex Attracted Students at School: Considerations for Principals” is the change in its status from a policy statement to “supporting materials for principals’ ­consideration”. The materials are yet to be approved.

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays national spokeswoman Shelley Argent slammed the move as “doing what’s easiest, not what’s right”. “The easier the school makes it for the child, the less traumatic it is,” she said.

Australian Transgender Support Association Queensland president Gina Mathers backed the move towards case-by-case decision-making but was “cynical” about its practical application.

Originally published as State drops support for trans students