Will Kostakis, an Australian author and journalist with Greek heritage, has slammed a Catholic school in Sydney after they asked him to “skip over” the queer sections of his book during a talk to students.
According to news.com.au, this isn’t the first time openly-gay Kostakis, who covers “same-sex topics” in his novels, has had this request.
Staff at All Saints Catholic College in Liverpool in Sydney’s southwest, recently made the same request of Kostakis when booking him to talk to 1,200 Year 7 to 10 pupils in August.
The school’s request was disclosed in an email that read: “If it’s possible skip over the same sex components when discussing his story and books”.
In response, Kostakis wrote: “Being gay, much like being Greek, is a vital piece of who I am and it informs what I write. I find it deeply disrespectful… to be asked that I “skip over” [queer sections].”
A spokesperson from All Saints Catholic College told news.com.au the school was simply exercising its right to make a “reasonable request.”
“It is reasonable for a school to ask questions about content… no disrespect is in any way intended” the spokesperson said.
