Egale Responds to Halton Catholic District School Board's Ban on GSAs

Toronto: Egale Canada is Canada's lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirited, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice. Through our Safe Schools Campaign, we are committed to supporting LGBTQ youth, youth perceived as LGBTQ, youth with LGBTQ parents, other family members, and friends as well as educators, librarians, guidance counsellors, education support workers, parents, and administrators and to helping make Canadian schools safer and more inclusive, respectful, and welcoming learning and working environments for all members of school communities.

According to Egale's report Every class in every school: The first national climate survey on homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in Canadian schools (2011), "Generic safe school policies that do not include specific measures on homophobia are not effective in improving the school climate for LGBTQ students. LGBTQ students from schools with anti-homophobia policies reported significantly fewer incidents of physical and verbal harassment due to their sexual orientation."

As such, Egale applauds the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) for explicitly including "sexual orientation" in its Equity and Inclusive Education Policy in its Preambles to both Inclusive Curriculum and Assessment Practices and Religious Accommodation. This overt reference is lacking, however, in its sections on School Climate and the Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment as well as Professional Learning. Given the results and recommendations from the First National School Climate Survey Reports (see www.MyGSA.ca/YouthSpeakUp for more information), this is an important consideration that needs to be addressed.

Further, Every class in every school notes that "LGBTQ students in schools with anti-homophobia policies did not report significantly higher levels of feeling safe at school with regard to gender identity and gender expression: this indicates a need to explicitly address gender identity, gender expression, and anti-transphobia in school and school board safer schools and equity and inclusive education policies." In order to help ensure the safety, security, and dignity of trans youth as well as youth with trans parents and other family members who attend school in the HCDSB, Egale urges the HCDSB to include "gender identity" and "gender expression" along with "sexual orientation" in its Equity and Inclusive Education Policy.

Although the HCDSB's Equity and Inclusive Education Policy does not make any reference to GSAs (Gay-Straight Alliances), it has been publicly stated that the HCDSB does not and will not support them. The S.I.D.E. (Safety, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity) Spaces seem to be meant to replace groups pertaining specifically and primarily to LGBTQ matters. This implicit ban on GSAs contradicts the Ontario Ministry of Education's Policy/Program Memorandum No. 145, Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour, issued Oct. 19, 2009, which states, "Boards must also help school staff to give support to students who wish to participate in gay-straight alliances and in other student-led activities that promote understanding and development of healthy relationships." In addition to S.I.D.E. Spaces, Egale maintains that the HCDSB should be supporting any and all of its students and staff members who wish to form and participate in a GSA and, further, that this intention be stated publicly in the HCDSB's Equity and Inclusive Education Policy.

For More Information:
Helen Kennedy, 416-964-7887 ext. 21

Egale Canada ©2011

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