When Emma Jensen stepped into Carinity Education Southside and saw family images hanging on the wall, she immediately decided that she wanted her children to attend that school.
Rylee, who is Jensen’s daughter and is 13 years old, realised in March that she needed to transfer schools; as a result, Jensen moved both of her daughters, Harley, who is 12 years old, and Rylee.
The siblings were difficult to tell apart from one another.
The application that Harley submitted to attend Rylee’s all-girls school was denied, although Rylee’s application was approved.
According to her family, Harley was born a boy.
“I said, ‘she’s a female. She identifies as a female and is on hormone blockers so she can transition. I don’t see the problem’,” Jensen, a single mum-of-four, told 7NEWS.
Jensen states that during a meeting with school employees, she questioned three times whether or not Harley’s transgender status would be considered a “problem” for her application to enrol in the school.
She stated that the worker gave her the assurance that it wouldn’t happen.
“I wanted to make sure, I didn’t want to set it up to get hurt,” Jensen added.
Jensen states that the next day, after the meeting, she received a call from the school and was instructed, “we’ll accept Rylee but we’re not admitting Harley because she’s a male.” Jensen was told that the school would accept Rylee.
Jensen contends in the discrimination claim that she has filed against the school that she has every right to have Harley present there.
After Harley was turned away from the school, Jensen implored the administration to reconsider their decision.
When Jensen’s message did not get through to the appropriate parties, he filed a discrimination claim.
In May, the Queensland Human Rights Commission decided to accept the complaint and also consented to participate in the conciliation process.