Delay threatens LGBT students in Ontario Schools

Toronto: The Ontario Gay Straight Alliance Coalition (Ontario GSA Coalition) is calling on all parties at Queen's Park to quickly pass legislation protecting LGBT students in Ontario schools.

The chair of the Ontario GSA Coalition says politicians are running out of time in order to have the protection against bullying and harassment in place for the new school year.

"There are only eight weeks of sittings before the legislature recesses for the summer," says Marilyn Byers, chair of the Ontario GSA Coalition. "And we are afraid that unless all three parties agree to work together, LGBT students will face another school year without full equality in the province's schools."

Right now, the legislature has before it two separate bills designed to improve the situation of LGBT students: the Government's Bill 13, and Bill 14, sponsored by Conservative Education critic Elizabeth Witmer. "Both bills have good features," says Byers, "but Bill 13 guarantees the rights of students to form Gay Straight Alliances, and that for us is crucial."

The Ontario GSA Coalition today called on Education Minister Laurel Broten, Conservative Elizabeth Witmer and NDP Education critic Peter Tabuns to publicly commit to work together and pass a law that incorporates the best of both bills before the summer recess. "All students in Ontario have a right to a safe and supportive school environment," says Byers, "and it will be tragic if the legislation is caught in the political crossfire of minority politics."

The Ontario GSA Coalition also announced today that it would provide practical assistance for students wanting to establish a GSA in their Ontario high school. "We have a website -ontariogsacoalition.com - and a Facebook page that will direct them to resources they need," says Coalition member Helen Kennedy. "These reports and experts will help them persuade school boards that GSA's are important. And if any school board tries to block the formation of a GSA, we will help students fight back, including legal action if required."

Coalition lawyer Doug Elliott says "it's been 10 years since Oshawa student Marc Hall won the right to take his same sex date to a prom at his separate high school. The Court found in the Marc Hall case that the Catholic Board had overstated their denominational rights at the expense of a gay student. We are seeing that pattern repeated today, but this time with potentially tragic consequences."

The Ontario GSA Coalition includes a broad range of organizations, including Egale Canada, Canadian Auto Workers, CUPE Ontario, Canadian AIDS Society, PFLAG, Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto and Catholics for Choice. The Coalition has once again retained prominent LGBT rights lawyer Douglas Elliott of Roy Elliott O'Connor LLP to advise them.

For more information or to arrange interviews contact:
John McGrath, The McGrath Group
john@mcgrathgrp.com
416-998-6570

Egale Canada ©2011

Canada's LGBT human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice.