Australian Story Tonight Monday 31 October on ABC TV

Australian Story Tonight Monday 31 October on ABC TV; They led a secretive, shame-filled life. They were 12, 14, and 15-year-old students attending a fundamentalist Christian school who had been taught that homosexuality was wrong and bad for society.

The school’s Felicity Myers received her diploma two years ago. She never thought she’d take a public stand against those teachings. Sam Martin and Emmey Leo, two former students, did not either.

But Felicity, then Samuel, then Emmey had to speak out when Brisbane’s Citipointe Christian College issued an updated enrollment contract earlier this year, asking parents to agree that homosexuality was a sin and mandating that students enrol under their birth gender.

“I just remember sitting there probably in shock for a minute. Seeing it in writing like that brought me back to being in that school environment. And something sort of sparked inside me and I was like, I can’t not say anything about it.” – Felicity Myers.

Together, the Citipointe graduates’ stories made national news.

But they never anticipated the firestorm they’d ignite in the corridors of Parliament House.

“Our family certainly felt like we were caught in the crossfire. My daughter and children like her, who are part of the LGBQTI community, witnessed their rights thrown around and used as a political football.” school parent and former teacher Helen Clapham-Burns.

Nor did they imagine the influence they would have on politicians about to debate the controversial Religious Discrimination Bill.

“The Citipointe story had a profound impact on the conscience of many of my colleagues in the coalition party room” – Trent Zimmerman, former federal MP.

Although the bill was ultimately shelved, the battle of faith versus freedom is still playing out across the country.

“Schools should be free to say exactly what they believe and why but we’re losing that freedom now because of this witch hunt which is going on against Christians. There’s no other way of putting it.” – David d’Lima, Family Voice.

Producers: Kirstin Murray and Jennifer Feller.

Losing Faith is introduced by ABC Radio National’s Geraldine Doogue

Airdate: Monday 31 October 2022 at 8.00pm on ABC TV.