January 24, 2011
Queer Ontario has written to Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Education, to ask that she intervene and enforce Ministry Policy that mandates school boards to support Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs). As outlined in Policy/Program Memorandum 145 under the sub-section “Prevention and Awareness Raising”*:
In order to promote a positive school climate, school boards must provide opportunities for all members of the school community to increase their knowledge and understanding of such issues as homophobia, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, inappropriate sexual behaviour, critical media literacy, and safe Internet use. Ontario’s curriculum provides many opportunities for students to develop an understanding of these topics. 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. Schools must also engage their school councils and student councils to support these student-led activities.
We believe that the time has come for the Ministry to intervene and support lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer (LGBTQ) youth in their fight for GSAs. Even with the rescinding of the ban by the Halton Catholic District School Board, it is clear that they are still not allowing students to form GSAs – much less supporting students in developing them. Queer Ontario asks that the Ministry intervene and ensure that LGBTQ students in the Halton Catholic District School Board – and in both Public and Catholic Schools across Ontario – are supported in their efforts to start up and participate in GSAs.
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Contact Person: Casey Oraa
Chair, Political Action Committee
caseyoraa@gmail.com
*SOURCE: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/145.html
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January 24, 2011
Leona Dombrowsky
Minister
Ministry of Education
Mowat Block, 22nd Flr, 900 Bay St
Toronto, ON M7A 1L2
Dear Minister Dombrowsky,
I am writing to you today to request that under Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum No. 145 Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour, you intervene in the ongoing situation with regards to the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) and enforce your policy requiring school boards to support Gay Straight Alliances (GSA). Specifically, as outlined in PPM 145 under the sub-section titled “Prevention and Awareness Raising”:
“In order to promote a positive school climate, school boards must provide opportunities for all members of the school community to increase their knowledge and understanding of such issues as homophobia, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, inappropriate sexual behaviour, critical media literacy, and safe Internet use. Ontario’s curriculum provides many opportunities for students to develop an understanding of these topics. 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. Schools must also engage their school councils and student councils to support these student-led activities.”
As clearly stated in your policy, “Boards must…help school staff to give support to students who wish to participate in gay-straight alliances”. Even though the HCDSB voted to rescind their ban on GSAs, it has become very clear that they have no intention of allowing GSAs to operate within their Board. As they suggested during the open question period during their most recent meeting held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011, they would look into the creation of a more generalized equity group – a method used by other Catholic school boards in Ontario – that would tackle issues such as homophobia.
While the work performed by a generalized equity group is valid and admirable, the importance of GSAs and the specificity of their mandate and work cannot be overstated. Their ability through education to help unravel the myths surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) persons is valuable not to mention the support network aspect for these youth who are often marginalized both in their schools and in their larger communities on the whole.
In a recent study conducted by Egale Canada, three-quarters of LGBTQ students stated that they felt unsafe in at least one area of their school, with half of their straight peers corroborating the unsafe nature of high schools for LGBTQ youth. No student, queer or straight, benefits from this kind of learning environment, nor do they deserve it.
We are requesting from you today that you enforce your policy, as outlined in PPM 145 and that you intervene for the good of the LGBTQ students attending school in the HCDSB as they have and continue to be denied the right to form a GSA.
All students benefit from a potential environment that does not tolerate harassment or bullying. Through the work performed by GSAs, there’s a real opportunity to improve the quality of life for not only LGBTQ students but the student body on the whole within the HCDSB as well. Please intervene and enforce your policy to ensure that students in the HCDSB have access to the GSAs they deserve.
Sincerely,
Casey Oraa
Chair
Political Action Committee
Queer Ontario
Cc:
Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB)
Tara Elliott, Director of Education, Egale Canada
Ontario Education Services Corporation (OESC)
Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)