I am a sexuality educator. Most days during term time you will find me in a schoolroom somewhere in Melbourne presenting factual, age-appropriate information to primary aged children. My job is to support parents and guardians in answering some of the tough questions about sex, sexuality and puberty. I combat some of the misinformation kids receive via the internet or older children, and provide a safe place for them to ask otherwise embarrassing questions like: how do I know when I am going to get my first period?

I stand in front of the class as clean a slate as possible. I don't wear a wedding ring, or rainbow earrings. The students don't know if I am married, single or divorced. They don't know whether I am gay or straight. They certainly don't know who shares my bedroom (if anyone) and what we do behind closed doors.

I am not at the school to teach values; the policy of my employer is that teaching values is the role of the child's family. When I demonstrate the use of pads and tampons we will have a discussion about the pros and cons of each choice, but if I am asked to recommend one or the other, I direct the students to their trusted adults for guidance on which is best for them.

Yet it seems Dr Kevin Donnelly, who has been appointed by Education Minister Christopher Pyne, would have me removed from the classroom. In his 2004 book Why Our Schools Are Failing, he is critical of the Australian Education Union. "The union argues that gays, lesbians and transgender individuals have a right to teach sex education," he declares. And that "many parents would consider the sexual practices of gays, lesbians and transgender individuals decidedly unnatural and that such groups have a greater risk in terms of transmitting STDs and AIDS".

I'm not sure whether to be amused or angered by this hysteria. As a celibate lesbian, I am pretty sure my "sexual practices" would have parents yawning rather than tying me to the stake to be burned for my unnatural – and seemingly contagious – sex life.