article_snippet: Peter Abetz, a WA state government MLA, expanded on the remarks Mr Abetz made to a West Australian newspaper in an interview with Daily Mail Australia.
article_snippet: Gay rights activist Rodney Croome said: 'Mr Abetz is reinforcing exactly the same myths and prejudices that the Safe Schools Program is designed to challenge' A former Christian pastor and politician described an anti-bullying campaign as a 'gay lifestyle promotion program', in remarks blasted by gay rights activists.
article_snippet: Peter Abetz, a WA state government backbencher - who first spoke to The West Australian - said Peter Abetz, a WA state government backbencher - who first spoke to The West Australian - was concerned a 'gay lifestyle promotion program' would elevate LGBTI children to 'celebrity' status. '
article_snippet: I don't believe that any program should go into a school which actually elevates a subset of students - LGBTI - to celebrity status and gives them special privileges which are not afforded to any other sub-group in the school,' Peter Abetz, a WA state government backbencher - who first spoke to The West Australian - told Daily Mail Australia.
article_snippet: Prominent gay rights advocate and Tasmanian of the Year Rodney Croome  blasted Mr Abetz remarks. '
article_snippet: Mr Abetz is reinforcing exactly the same myths, prejudices that the Safe Schools Program is designed to challenge,' Mr Abetz told Daily Mail Australia. '
article_snippet: A decade of large-scale studies in the Safe Schools Coalition Australia's and overseas have confirmed that prejudice and bullying against young gay people increases young gay people risk of alcohol and drug abuse, conflict with peers, early school leaving, and suicide.' 'The research also shows that one of the best ways to address this risk is to give teachers the skills and information teachers need to effectively challenge classroom prejudice and bullying.'
article_snippet: Mr Abetz said the Safe Schools Coalition Australia (which produces posters such as those above) program would elevate gay, lesbian, transgender, intersex and bisexual children to 'celebrities' at school .
highlights_snippet: Mr Abetz has described a school anti-bullying campaign as a 'gay lifestyle promotion campaign'
  Mr Abetz told Daily Mail Australia Mr Abetz was concerned the program would elevate LGBTI children to 'celebrity' status .
  
highlights_snippet: Mr Abetz is reinforcing exactly the same myths, prejudices that the Safe Schools Program is designed to challenge' 