A prestigious Melbourne grammar school has sparked outrage after students widely re-shared a suggestive video involving a dildo from a guest speaker’s social media account.
Trinity Grammar in Kew hosted Queer Arab Australia founder Basem Kerbage at an assembly last Friday under Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria’s Pride Round.
The queer, pro-Palestine human rights activist addressed students from years seven to ten at the school, talking about different forms of love as part of the Pride Week event.
Students from the school found a video on Mr Kerbage’s Instagram shortly after the speech and widely reshared it.
The video on his now-locked-down Instagram page appeared to depict Mr Kerbage pushing a dildo down his throat.
Pupil’s parents were reportedly upset by the content of the video and private messaging groups were flooded with complaints.
Parents said they didn’t ‘like the direction the school is heading’ and were appalled by the choice of presenter, according to the Herald Sun.
A parent claimed that students were told to search for ‘visualise your goals’ by Mr Kerbage, which led them to the controversial Instagram post and a task titled ‘dildo hand job challenge.’
Activist and pride speaker Basem Kerbage (above) delivered a speech at Trinity Grammar, Kew, as a Pride Week activity last Friday before students discovered a suggestive video
Students recorded and reshared the video (above), found on one of Mr Kerbage’s social media accounts
Another said the school had angered fee-paying parents with their lack of due diligence.
‘Many parents are furious that the school failed to undertake due diligence in this young, gay man’s extreme sex content digital footprint,’ she said.
In response, the school informed parents they had sourced Mr Kerbage through a reputable, government-funded organisation.
‘It has since been brought to our attention that the speakers’ social media accounts included inappropriate material including one since-deleted video which we understand the students have circulated among themselves,’ they wrote in an email.
The school said they had registered their concern with the organisation.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Trinity Grammar for an official response.
Tuition fees for year seven students at the school begin at just more than $40,000 per year.
For years 11 and 12, the school charges $42,944 per year.
Some parents at the high-fee paying school were outraged by Mr Kerbage’s appointment to speak at the school
Other parents registered their disapproval of the speaker’s stance on the war in the Middle East.
Mr Kerbage reportedly attended the event wearing a Palestinian, black and white keffiyeh.
The scarf is traditionally worn as a protector from the sun, before also serving as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.
Parents of Jewish students at the Anglican school told local media they were dismayed by the move.
