Day: 17 February 2012
Statement from Monash University Faculty of Education Members Against Homophobia
[PDF]
Statement from Monash Education Faculty Members Against Homophobia
We are writing as members of the Faculty of Education because we have been disturbed by
an article written by a Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen in the journal of the Australian Family
Association. Cowen notes in this piece
(http://www.family.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=442) that he is an affiliate of Monash University. We are supportive of people’s freedom to express religious and cultural difference on issues of sexuality. However, we think that Cowen’s homophobic diatribe which particularly targets school programs aimed at prevention of homophobic bullying is both unscholarly and unacceptable. This sentiment has also been expressed by members of Melbourne’s Jewish community
(see http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2012/02/16/anti-bully-advocates-fightback/
72052).
Cowen mounts a bigoted argument against programs which target homophobic bullying in
schools. He asserts that opposition to homosexuality dates from “the dawn of time”, and that homosexuality is a mental illness. He further claims that acceptance of homosexuality in schools is abnormal, unethical, unconstitutional, and psychologically damaging. Cowen’s views are based on neither historical record nor credible scientific literature.
We condemn the uninformed opinions expressed by Cowen, which are foreign to the goals,
values, and standards of scholarship we proudly represent as researchers and teacher
educators. Such views are also profoundly damaging to the young people in schools Cowen
seeks to influence.
We call on Monash University to also distance itself from homophobia, reaffirm the values of tolerance and inclusivity upon which it prides itself, and explain what positive contribution Rabbi Dr. Shimon Cowen’s affiliation makes to our institution.
Dr. Joel Windle
Dr. Mary Lou Rasmussen
Dr. Miriam Faine
Dr. David Zyngier
Dr. Marc Pruyn
Dr. Anne Harris
Dr. Richard Smith
Dr. Jenny Miller
Dr. Scott Bulfin
Professor Jane Kenway
17 February 2012
Note: as of 15 May 2013 the first link in this statement stopped working. The replacement link is: http://family.org.au/index.php/afa-journal/112-afa-journal-vol-32-no-2-2011/180-the-homosexual-anti-bullying-program-for-schools-an-unconscionable-strategem
Unholy Alliance: Rabbi sides with Margaret Court, attacks Safe Schools | Rainbow Reporter
The Rainbow Report: Coalitions Part 2
Doug explains why this segment about Rabbi Shimon Cowen doesn’t have a spokesperson from the Jewish community
See also: Rainbow Report on Coalitions
Note: the title of this post was drawn from the corresponding audio track on the Rainbow Reporter SoundCloud channel. That audio track is no longer available.
Rabbi’s remarks dubbed delusional | Melbourne mX
This story appeared on page 2 in the Melbourne mX on February 16, 2012, following on from the previous day’s cover story.
[PDF]
Rabbi’s remarks
dubbed delusional
Nadia Salemme
Jewish community groups have
distanced themselves from a
rabbi who criticised antibullying
programs for gay teens.
Aleph, a social and support
group for Jewish gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender
people, has condemned the
remarks by Rabbi Dr Shimon
Cowen as deluded.
He had claimed support programs
about gender and sexual
diversity in schools ‘‘could in fact
cultivate and encourage homosexuality
amongst many children
who would ordinarily grow
into heterosexual lifestyles’’.
Aleph spokesman Michael
Barnett said of Cowen: ‘‘He
needs to understand that people
who impose their religious
beliefs on same-sex-attracted
people are doing more harm
than good, and that it actually
adds to their suffering, misery
and is completely unacceptable.
‘‘It’s not a very helpful perspective
when it comes to
understanding the issues behind
sexuality and the very sensitive
nature of young children.’’
Barnett said he regularly received
calls from ‘‘distressed’’
Jewish families who needed
support for young gay people.
‘‘These people are suffering
badly – it’s because of the attitudes
of people like this rabbi
who have repressed discussion
in the community, repressed
tolerance and inclusion, and
unconditional love,’’ he said.
The Executive Council of Australian
Jewry has also distanced
itself from Cowen’s comments.
In a statement, it described
Cowen as ‘‘highly respected in
our community, but that does
not mean that his views on any
subject are representative’’.