The Queensland Department of Education confirmed it’s ending its membership in the LGBTQIA+ workplace inclusion program, Pride in Diversity, after a petition opposing it received just over 900 signatures. Former national spokesperson for PFLAG+, Shelley Argent’s petition supporting the program received over 2000 signatures in 24 hours and continues to grow. Will the Department of Education listen?
The department confirmed it was withdrawing from the ACON-eun initiative after a review, with a spokesperson stating, “participation does not align with its current requirements and has commenced the process to end its membership.”
The Department of Education was a member since 2018 and was named a Platinum Employer at the 2026 Australian Workplace Equality Index awards.
The program assists organisations with LGBTQIA+ employment policies, staff training, employee networks and workplace inclusion strategies.
This left many wondering what “requirements” could not align with in a school environment.
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Petition calling for programs removal receives only 914 signatures
Questions about the department’s membership began after Sunshine Coast mother Nerissa Pace lodged a Parliament petition.
The petition claimed that the relationship between Education Queensland and ACON “influences student activities, classroom content and recruitment” and calls ACON a “national advocate for transgender ideology”.
In the petition, Pace said that “parents have received no formal notice of alliance and want transparency”. It had 914 signatures when the department announced it would withdraw from the initiative, which Pace said was a “win for parents”.
“This is exactly what parents like me want to see happening for our children,” Pace told the Sunshine Coast Daily, “Because we never had a say in decisions like this.”
“We need evidence-based practices in our schools; not unscientific ideology being forced on our impressionable young children.”
Pace claimed that 95% of parents agreed that “gender and LGBTQ+ education did not belong in schools”. That figure comes from an independent survey of 1,072 Australian parents. 190 of them were from Queensland.
Pace’s petition recieved 914 signatures in ten hours.
“Australian workplaces thrive when everyone feels welcome, valued and able to contribute fully,” an ACON spokesperson said.
Highlighting the Pride in Diversity program supports employers to “create inclusive, safe and respectful workplaces for all Australians”.
‘Students and staff deserve to feel safe, supported and welcome at school’
Former national spokesperson for PFLAG+ and advocate, Shelley Argent OAM, started her own Parliament petition supporting LGBTQIA+ students and staff in schools.
In twenty-four hours, the petition surpassed Pace’s petition numbers with over 2000 signatures.
The petition cites Australian evidence highlighting why this support is needed.
- 46% of LGBTIQ+ workers experienced discrimination at work; workers in inclusive teams were 4 times less likely to leave organisations (Diversity Council Australia, 2026).
- 60% of LGBTQA+ young people felt unsafe or uncomfortable at school because of their sexuality or gender identity.
- 28% of LGBTQA+ young people experienced verbal harassment at school.
- 10% of LGBTQA+ young people attempted suicide in the previous year compared with 3.8% of young people generally (Hill et al., 2021).
“Our kids matter. So do the teachers and staff who care for them,” Argent said, sharing the petition online. “LGBTIQA+ students and staff deserve to feel safe, supported and welcome at school.”
“When teachers and staff feel safe to be themselves, it helps create a school where students can feel safe to be themselves. Pride in Diversity helped support LGBTIQA+ staff in Queensland schools. We need to bring that support back.”
Sign the petition to protect QLD LGBTIQA+ students and staff
The petition calls for the Department of Education to continue to take part in LGBTIQ+ workplace inclusion programs, including Pride in Diversity, and rejoin where needed.
Calling for it to maintain professional support, resources and training so school staff can prevent and respond to discrimination, harassment and bullying experienced by LGBTIQ+ staff and students; and bring back support that has been removed.
“Keeping LGBTIQ+ inclusion support helps school staff prevent and respond to discrimination, harassment, bullying and exclusion,” it states.
You can sign the petition here.
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