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Are Kids Safe in Our Schools?

TORONTO: Egale Canada today launched a national survey designed to explore the experiences of homophobia and transphobia of students in Canadian Schools. "We are working with School Boards, Gay Straight Alliances, agencies and service providers to make sure as many youth as possible across the country have access to the survey," said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada. "It's available online at www.climatesurvey.ca and is easy to navigate."

"This project will document the school climate for straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two Spirit, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTTIQ) students in Canada," says Dr. Catherine Taylor, Faculty of Education, University of Winnipeg, and the project's principal investigator. "It's the first comprehensive study of its kind in Canada and the results will provide us with the information needed to make schools safer and more respectful."

LGBTTIQ teens are more likely to be threatened with weapons, drop out of school because of harassment and are forced to leave home because of conflicts with parents. One such teen, Jen Blaser, tells a story that is all too familiar in our school environment. "As an out queer youth, I received death threats and suffered several physical assaults," says Blaser, "eventually I left school because I had no sense of security or safety."

British Columbia educator and Chair of Egale Canada's Education Committee Noble Kelly explains that the survey is long overdue, "it will give us the statistics necessary to help develop the kinds of supports kids need while coming to terms with who they are."

Egale Canada advances equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and trans-identified people and their families across Canada.

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More Information:
Helen Kennedy, Executive Director, Egale Canada, Tel: 416-270-1999
Dr. Catherine Taylor, University of Winnipeg, Tel: 204-786-9893
Noble Kelly, Egale Canada Education Committee, Tel: 604-838-4803

Egale Canada ©2011

Égale Canada est l'organisme national de défense des droits des personnes LGBT, voué à la promotion de l'égalité, de la diversité, de l'éducation et de la justice.