Today Extra host Sonia Kruger has once again caused a public stir with her on air comments, this time focusing on the need to identify LGBTI high school students in order to award a Australian Business and Community Network Scholarship Foundation (ABCN) scholarship.
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Kruger was responding to news the ABCN was for the first time this year quizzing year 10 students about their sexual and gender identity as part of a scholarship that awarded financial or mentoring assistance. In previous years they were asked only whether they were male or female.
Successful applicants, who were Australian citizens or permanent residents, received $7000 to cover three years of study, including the first year of university.
The move has support among the LGBTI community, with long-time LGBTI rights advocate, Rodney Croome, saying: "LGBTI students face much higher than average levels of discrimination and abuse which can adversely impact their educational achievement.
"I applaud the Australian Business and Community Network for recognising this disadvantage in the same way they recognise the disadvantage faced by Indigenous or rural students."
In a discussion with Today host Karl Stefanovic and her co-host David Campbell, Kruger suggested it felt like "reverse discrimination".
"To ask a student if they identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, you're asking someone about their sexual preferences and I find that that's a really odd thing to do, in any kind of capacity, whether it's a job or a scholarship. I think a scholarship should be given on merit."
Co-host David Campbell pointed out that the scholarship also included transgender people.
"I don't think it should have anything to do with the awarding of a scholarship. I think a scholarship should be given on merit," Kruger said.
Campbell also made the point that it was about helping people with "significant economic, family or social challenges".
But Kruger wasn't to be swayed, saying: "And there's a minority there who suffer and I get that but I still struggle with having to identify the sexuality of a person."
Noting that there are "tons" of other scholarships for the "supremely talented" in sports, Campbell said to make a scholarship available to those who are LGBTQI, "helping you to one scholarship. I hardly think it's a big deal".
Kruger was somewhat mirroring comments made by Christian lobby group Family Voice Australia, whose national policy officer Damian Wyld told The Australian: "Many 15-year-olds are still working through issues around sexuality. Offering a financial incentive to identify as 'lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or intersex' is completely inappropriate."
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays spokesperson Shelley Argent said: "It's absolutely absurd. Children at that age want to be anything but LGBTI and all the children that I speak to who are LGBTI would much rather be straight because it's easier.
"Most young [LGBTI] people at high school have poorer grades, higher truancy rates and are at risk of being bullying."
Ms Argent said one in five young people were homeless because they identify as LGBTI and fear rejection at home, and the risk of suicide went up dramatically in the lead up to coming out to their families or directly after being rejected by their families.
She applauded the scholarship.
Kruger's latest commentary was hardly as inflammatory as her Muslim comments in which she said she would like to see the immigration of Muslims to Australia "stopped now ... because I would like to feel safe". But it was enough to cause a stir on social media.
How about Sonia Kruger only speak from script from now on. The whole 'putting thoughts into words' thing seems an a bit of an issue for her.— ross clelland (@rnclelland) August 1, 2016
Sonia Kruger back in the headlines for voicing her concerns over 'reverse discrimination'. I guess she prefers 'normal discrimination'?— Abdullahi Alim (@abdullahialim) August 1, 2016
Sonia Kruger has officially jumped the shark.— Jo (@ruby_jo_) August 1, 2016
Maybe Sonia Kruger should just stop talking— jemma (@jemmacatt) August 1, 2016
Reverse discrimination is the stupidest phrase in the English language.
must be tough for Sonia Kruger being white, straight & wealthy— Randy (@RandyVuck) August 1, 2016
what if, and stick with me here guys, what if we stopped asking sonia kruger's opinions on things— mat whitehead (@matwhi) August 1, 2016
But it wasn't all negative.
I thought Sonia Kruger's comment were fair. Why should any preference be based on sexuality and not merit?— Simon Dee (@Nomis455) August 1, 2016
Is everyone actually watching what Sonia Kruger said or just looking at the ridiculously overinflated headlines?— Simon Dee (@Nomis455) August 1, 2016
Let me guess. For saying the obvious Sonia Kruger is being hammered by the progressive keft on Twitter. Oh look she is too— Steven Howie (@StevenHowie69) August 1, 2016
Sonia Kruger is right.
Noone cares if your gay anymore, so why create unnecessary division with gay only scholarships? #gayprivilege— Black Swan (@blackhat1811) August 1, 2016
So, can someone tell me what the issue is with what Sonia Kruger said or is the world just outraged at anything and everything. #whingers.— Daniel Simpson (@Dansim23) August 1, 2016
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