Former High Court Judge Michael Kirby has backed the Safe Schools program, saying Australia has moved beyond a "don't ask, don't tell" philosophy.
His comments come after a petition against the program with more than 17,000 signatures from the Australian Chinese community was tabled in the New South Wales Parliament.
Safe Schools is a federally funded anti-bullying program aimed at helping lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or intersex (LGBTI) school students and is administered by state and territory education departments.
Mr Kirby, who is gay and has been with his partner for 47 years, said his childhood was an incredibly lonely time and the support offered by the Safe Schools program would have been welcomed.
