FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2010

Closeting the Curriculum

Toronto: Premier McGuinty’s retraction of the new and improved Health and Physical Education curriculum means that, as of this fall, kids of all ages will be reading about an openly gay character in their Archie comic books, but they won’t be learning about matters related to sexual orientation in Ontario classrooms until Grade 8. Talk about confusing children!

Under the proposed curriculum, youth would have learned about the topics of gender identity and sexual orientation in elementary school, which rankled opponents of the plan. For families headed by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirited, and queer (LGBTQ) parents and for children as they mature, the fact that this is currently not happening has traumatic consequences. As Egale Canada’s First National School Climate Survey on Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia attests, youth with LGBTQ parents are often targets of harassment and bullying at school.

“This is very disappointing. Kids with same-sex parents are being left out again,” said Egale’s Executive Director Helen Kennedy. “When are people going to learn that reality can include two moms, two dads, and the whole of human diversity?”

This lack of education in Ontario’s elementary schools contributes to the very real dangers of homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic physical, verbal, and sexual abuse and discrimination. Youth use words like “dyke,” “fag,” and “tranny” and expressions like “that’s so gay” without any real understanding of what they mean and the significant harm being done to LGBTQ youth, youth perceived as LGBTQ, and youth with LGBTQ parents.

“A little education now can stop a lot of pain and violence later,” said Kennedy.

Egale Canada is Canada’s LGBT human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Helen Kennedy, 416-642-5027

Egale Canada ©2011

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