A music teacher who told Sydney Catholic school management she was in the process of transferring schools was allegedly asked to transfer to another school and then not have a shift for a year.

Sydney woman Zoe Conolan-Glen lodged a discrimination complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission in July 2024, which was transferred to the Federal Court on December 18, claiming the future school's management also claimed Asked intrusive questions, including which staff bathroom she would use and how she would react if a parent complained about her status.

In New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia, LGBTQ+ teachers, particularly those working in religious schools, risk losing their jobs if they disclose their identity.

Federally, the religious discrimination debate is at an impasse. While the rights and protections for LGBTQ+ people in NSW have been strengthened with the passage of the Equality Act in October 2024, many advocates are concerned about the removal of protections for private school teachers and students.

Conolan-Glen, who represents Since 2021, she has been working as a part-time music teacher at three schools run by Sydney Catholic Schools.

In December 2023, she told the group that she was a woman and should be addressed by her correct name and pronouns.

Conolan-Glen said Sydney Catholic Schools, which operates 150 schools across the city, then advised her to move to another school in 2024 so she would not have to explain her changes in appearance to students.

She agreed to the request, but she was not assigned to a new school or offered any position involving in-person instruction until the start of the 2024 school year, as she allegedly expected.

According to Conolan-Glen's statement of claim, the organization allegedly sent her a letter in March 2024 expressing concerns about her "obviously masculine characteristics" and inviting her to take unpaid leave until the end of the year.

Konoranglen declined the offer and was later allegedly offered an administrative position without any contact with students and was offered an unpaid leave of absence.

In June 2024, during a meeting with another potential school, a senior staff member allegedly asked Conolan-Glen which bathroom she would use and how she would respond to intrusive questions from students about her identity. and what she would do if a parent complained.

The staff member also allegedly suggested that Sydney Catholic School "sent an internal communication to all staff informing them that (she) was a transgender woman" before Cornoran-Glen started attending the school, the statement said .

The statement of claim details that Sydney Catholic Schools did not continue to assign her to the school when she did not agree.

Conoran-Glen told Guardian Australia in a statement that all she wanted to do was teach.

“I’ve been teaching my whole career,” she said. "My parents and grandparents were teachers. That's all I wanted to do and my gender shouldn't be a barrier."

A spokesman for Sydney Catholic Schools said they were unable to comment as the matter was before the Federal Court.

"Sydney Catholic Schools has responded to the anti-discrimination claims made in this case and believes it is vital that we limit comments to the privacy and dignity of all involved," the spokesperson said.

2024, Research by Equality Australia Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people was found to be widespread in religious schools and organizations across the country.

Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown said students and teachers were often discriminated against because of their identity.

“We know of students who have been forced to withdraw from school or told they will go to hell, and we know of teachers who have been fired or denied promotions,” she said.

“For every person who speaks out, there are countless others who are discriminated against or hide their identity because they want to keep their job or stay in school.”