Catholic School Cancels Author’s Presentation after he Announces he’s Gay

In light of the Royal Commission in Rome, where Cardinal Pell appears to be tightening the noose around his neck, the Catholics are in the Australian spotlight again.

A Sydney Catholic school has cancelled a popular award-winning author’s appointment to speak with their students, after he shortly announced on his blog that he was gay. The school De La Salle College, reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, has been said to have contacted the Will Kostakis through email to cancel his appointment.

“We were reading over your blog and I think it might not be appropriate, and parents might not be happy,” the email said. One teacher added to the comments that it was nothing personal against Kostakis, but that his book Sidekicks, which features a gay protagonist, may be considered inappropriate, “as it is a Catholic school.”

Coming out in public on his blog, Kostakis said there was nothing easy about it. But it was after a former boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer, that he thought he’d make the announcement on his blog in a show of support.

The cancellation of Kostakis’ appointment has come as a surprise. “I had hoped, having spoken at some Catholic schools, those schools would be comfortable with my revelation knowing what I bring to my presentations and workshops. And that my sexuality, while it informs who I am, is not the subject of my presentations,” he posted on his blog, the response he sent to the school’s email. With dignity, he further said:

“I am thankful for the leadership my high school showed in selecting texts that championed diversity. Some people were uncomfortable reading about two boys kissing, but it prompted discussion and working through prejudice. And even though I was not out, I felt like less of an outsider. I felt safe…

And that is not something I will accept for the promise of a pay cheque.

All the very best for the future, and I hope you find the courage my teachers did.”

Kostakis advocates educating children about all walks of life, moving away from preconceived ideas and the conservatism in the country. “I want to add my voice, however quiet it is, at the end of a week when every idiot in parliament is making links between Safe Schools and sex shops,” Kostakis said, about the Safe Schools program since introduced and its “alleged preaching of homosexuality” to children to conform.

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