It is not a “harmful myth,” Dr Russell, that Tasmanian children are being taught that boys can have a vagina, girls can have a penis, and that a person can “feel like a boy inside” even if they were assigned female at birth. This wording is taken directly from Tasmanian Government policy and from materials taught by Family Planning Tasmania (FPT) in schools.
That is a fact.
Tasmanian parents expect schools to be transparent and honest about what is being taught to their children and to seek parental consent before enrolling students in programs run by external providers that present these ideas as fact. This consent is not being sought consistently across Tasmanian schools — that too is a fact.
It is incompatible with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations for Family Planning Tasmania to exclude parents by claiming their sex-education materials are “commercial-in-confidence.” And it is not respectful, Dr Russell, for organisations like Equality Tasmania to gaslight parents into believing their concerns are merely a “misrepresentation” of what FPT presents in classrooms.
Tasmanian parents expect schools to uphold the Education Act 1994 (Tas), which recognises parents as “the first and most important educators of the child” (Principle 4(1)(c) and (d)), and requires that all educational programs be age-appropriate and evidence-based. This is not currently happening in Tasmania.
Where are the FPT lesson plans, Dr Russell, if there is truly nothing to hide?
The truth is that Family Planning Tasmania is teaching children that boys can have a vagina and girls a penis, and that feelings of being a boy or girl override biological reality. This does not pass the Tasmanian “pub test.” These are theoretical ideas, not facts, and should not be taught as such.
Gender-identity theory should never override biological truth in education — and it should never be introduced without parental knowledge or consent.
True respect, Dr Russell, means ensuring parents and children are genuinely “safe, seen, and supported” in raising their concerns. It means requiring external providers like FPT to meet their legal obligations under the Tasmanian Education Act, which mandates that a child’s privacy, dignity, and family values are respected, and that parents are recognised as partners in their child’s education.
For Further Information contact Dr Elizabeth Caballero: [email protected]
-ENDS-
Equality Tasmania Media Release 25.10.25
Disclaimer: This photo was shared with Women Speak Tasmania by a follower. At this time, it does not appear on the Equality Tasmania website. We found a copy in the web archive
https://web.archive.org/web/20251030051915/https://ymlp.com/zfkz7I