Anti-gay marriage ad mum complained to school a year ago

A principal who denied having heard about a mother’s complaint her son was told he could wear a dress to school has been contradicted by education officials.

Mother-of-four Cella White – who appeared in the Coalition for Marriage ad opposing gay marriage – claimed her 14-year-old son was given the option of wearing a dress to school.

But John Albiston, the principal of Frankston High in Melbourne’s southeast, said on Thursday the mother’s claims were untrue , the incident ‘never happened’ and he first heard of the complaint from the media.

Now Mr Albiston’s denials have been brought into question by the education department, who say Ms White contacted them more than a year ago over the issue, prompting a follow-up with the school, The Australian reported.  

Mother-of-four Cella White (pictured) – who appeared in the Coalition for Marriage ad opposing gay marriage – claimed her 14-year-old son was given the option of wearing a dress

John Albiston, the principal of Frankston High (pictured, stock image), said on Thursday the mother's claims were untrue and the incident 'never happened'

John Albiston, the principal of Frankston High (pictured, stock image), said on Thursday the mother’s claims were untrue and the incident ‘never happened’

‘Ms White was brought to a meeting with department staff in January 2016 by the Australian Christian Lobby,’ said a department spokesman.

‘In that meeting she suggested that her son had been told he could wear a dress. After checking with the school we are confident this conversation did not take place.’

Ms White first made the claims on Q&A in 2014, saying the incident happened during her son’s science class.

She repeated them in the ‘No’ vote advertisement, where she said: ‘The school told my son he could wear a dress to school next year if he felt like it’. 

Ms White (pictured) first made the claims on Q&A in 2014, saying the incident happened during her son's science class

Ms White (pictured) first made the claims on Q&A in 2014, saying the incident happened during her son’s science class

Mr Albiston then denied it, saying not only did the incident not take place, but the Victorian mother never contacted the school about it either.

But Ms White has been backed up by another parent, who says it is well known that students are told they can wear the uniforms of the gender they identify as.

The school supports the Safe Schools Coalition which was responsible for the controversial 2014 Gender Is Not A Uniform project.

The school supports the Safe Schools Coalition, responsible for the Gender Is Not A Uniform project (pictured)

The school supports the Safe Schools Coalition, responsible for the Gender Is Not A Uniform project (pictured)

The school supports the Safe Schools Coalition which was responsible for the controversial 2014 Gender Is Not A Uniform project (pictured)

The education department said promotional posters produced as part of the project showing boys in dresses were not being used in schools at present.

Coalition for Marriage – who produced the ‘No’ ad – has linked Safe Schools to the same-sex marriage debate. 

They say Ms White’s complaint is ‘consistent with the Safe Schools program as used in Victoria, which includes an entire resource devoted to students being able to wear uniforms of whatever gender they choose.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Frankston High School for comment. 

 

 

 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk