Researchers behind the development of the Safe Schools program, now the subject of a federal government review, have been receiving abusive emails over the past fortnight, according to the manager of Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, Dr Philomena Horsley.



It comes as Horsley told the Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety conference in Melbourne on Tuesday that 49% of transgender women experiences harassment or abuse in a single year.

Half of same-sex-attracted women aged between 14 and 21 reported experiencing homophobic physical and verbal abuse at home, she told the conference.

Horsley said the data highlighted the importance of Safe Schools, an an anti-bullying education program run in schools to support and promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex (LGBTI) students. Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria, based at La Trobe University, founded the program in 2010, which was rolled out nationally by the Labor government in 2013 because of its success.

But the program is under review after the Liberal backbencher, Cory Bernardi, raised concerns it “indoctrinates kids with Marxist cultural relativism” and the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, ordered a review.

“Prior to Safe Schools we were already providing education and support to schools on this topic, so we have data going back 12 years showing that in Victoria, gender diverse and same-sex-attracted young people did better than those in other states and territories without a similar program,” Horsley said.

“It does absolutely save lives, and that the program led to a reduction in suicide among LGBTI youth.

“We know there are high levels of suicide attempts and self-harm among same-sex-attracted and gender diverse youth, and while people may think things are getting better in terms of that abuse, our data shows it’s getting worse.”

That was because compared with 18 years ago, young people between 14 and 21 were more likely to have told people about their sexuality and gender, opening them up to receiving support but also exposing them to abuse, said Horsley.

“Despite the evidence that Safe Schools helps young people feel included and supported, we’ve really noticed in last 12 months that the Australian Christian Lobby has been working very hard to get any programs that support LGBTI people defunded, they don’t seem to believe LGBTI people are entitled to the same feelings of safety and protection in the community,” Horsley said.

“The evidence shows this program is the right thing to do, and that it saves lives. That’s why I’m surprised and aghast that Bernadi is supporting the Australian Christian Lobby in their views.”

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, was one of many state and territory leaders to throw his support behind Safe Schools on Monday after the review of the program was announced.

“I’m sick of Liberal politicians telling our kids that there’s something wrong with them, when there isn’t,” Andrews wrote in a Facebook post.

Horsley said staff at Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria had received abusive and threatening phone calls and emails ever since the latest attack on the Safe Schools program by the Australian Christian Lobby began.

“It’s been going on for the past two weeks,” she said.

Victoria’s health minister, Jill Hennessy, told Guardian Australia she found any discrimination against people on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender “absolutely abhorrent”.

“I am appalled that there are people directing such hate and bigotry at the hard-working and dedicated staff at Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria,” she said.

“Just as every student is entitled to feel safe at school, the staff at Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria have the right to do their work without being subject to abuse and discrimination.”



Wendy Francis, the Queensland director of the Australian Christian Lobby, told Guardian Australia that all bullying should be stopped. Francis said she too had been subjected to abusive remarks.

“The bullying in my email and Twitter feed has been horrendous in the past fortnight,” she said.

“We should be able to speak respectfully about Safe Schools, which is quite a radical program, without resorting to bullying.”

Horsley told the Melbourne conference that cumulative experiences of abuse and violence among LGBTI people were linked to higher rates of harmful alcohol use, psychological distress, drug use, smoking and poorer general health.

Additional factors, such as living with a disability, social and geographic isolation, and being an immigrant or refugee compounded the risk of violence and abuse, she said.

“It raises issues for some services around how well they are set up to deal with gender diversity and sexual diversity,” Horsley said. “Family violence and services have told us that they feel less confident or educated around patterns of abuse among LGBTI people.”