Safe Schools Campaign

According to Every Class in Every School, Egale's Final Report on Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia in Canadian Schools...

• 68% of trans students, 55% of female sexual minority students, and 42% of male sexual minority students reported being verbally harassed about their perceived gender or sexual orientation.
• 20% of LGBTQ students and almost 10% of non-LGBTQ students reported being physically harassed or assaulted about their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Almost two thirds (64%) of LGBTQ students and 61% of students with LGBTQ parents reported that they feel unsafe at school.

With this in mind, Egale Canada is excited to announce recent developments in the Safe Schools Campaign, including new and innovative resources for facilitating change in Canadian learning environments. Information about and access to all campaign resources can be found on the national LGBTQ safer schools and inclusive education website, MyGSA.ca, where you can also order anti-heterosexism, anti-homophobia, anti-biphobia, anti-transphobia, and intersectionality workshops for your school or school board.

Egale is thrilled to add to this campaign with the brand-new Equity and Inclusive Education Resource Kit for Ontario High Schools, now available electronically at www.MyGSA.ca/OntarioKit. This comprehensive resource is the first of its kind in Canada and provides significant support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans (transgender, transsexual, trans-identified), two-spirited, queer, and questioning (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 in order to help make Canadian schools safer and more inclusive, respectful, and welcoming learning and working environments for all members of school communities.

Currently, Egale's Equity and Inclusive Education Resource Kit is only available for Ontario high schools, but our goal is to ensure that each school in Canada receives a kit tailored to its region. Obviously, this is a huge task, and we need your help!

Take action to help make our schools safe for everyone by following these four easy steps:

Step 1: Sponsor a Kit for a School Near You

Step 2: Sign the Safe Schools Kit Petition

Step 3: E-mail Your Minister of Education

Step 4: Invite Your Friends to Take Action

In addition to these steps, we encourage you to get informed and contact your local school and/or school board directly. If you have questions about any of these initiatives, or if you would like to get involved or to book a workshop for your school or school board, please contact us at mygsa@egale.ca or 1.888.204.7777 (toll-free).

Egale Canada ©2011

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