FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

October 24, 2011

Queer Ontario Requests a Meeting with Premier McGuinty and Minister of Education Laurel Broten to discuss supporting LGBTQ Youth in all publicly funded schools

TORONTO – The election has come and gone but the issue of supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) students in all publicly funded schools is still a very real one. Given that Premier McGuinty committed to ensuring that all students in publicly funded schools would have an LGBT support group come this Fall*, a commitment that has yet to be followed through on, we once again call on him to follow through on his word and if he’s serious, go a step further.

We have written to the Premier and the Minister of Education requesting a meeting to discuss the issue of properly supporting LGBTQ students in all publicly funded schools through organizations such as Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs). We also expressed our interest in discussing the integration of LGBTQ content into curriculum, including the long-delayed updates to the sex education curriculum.

The recent tragic passing of Jamie Hubley is a firm reminder that it only gets better when we make it better. Moving forward on supporting our LGBTQ students through groups and updated curriculum are just two accomplishable ways the Premier and the Minister of Education can make it better and we truly hope they are committed to do so.

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*“Ontario to mandate ‘LGBT support groups’ in Catholic schools” by Andrea Houston, Xtra! Canada, Saturday, July 2, 2011

NOTICE: Queer Ontario’s first Annual General Meeting and Elections
Saturday, November 5, 2011 – Light Meal: 7 p.m. – Meeting 8 p.m.
519 Community Centre, Toronto – Room 100/106 (main floor)

NOTE: Nominations for steering committee at-large positions and senior coordinator positions are extended to Monday, October 24, 2011.

Queer Ontario invites you to join us for our first Annual General Meeting and Elections, being held Saturday, November 5, 2011 – light meal at 7 p.m., meeting at 8 p.m. – at the 519 Community Centre, 519 Church Street, Toronto. All members and friends are welcome to join us.

A free light meal will be provided at 7 p.m. (donations appreciated) before the meeting begins at 8 p.m. We will have an ASL interpreter, and childcare will be provided with advance request at info@queerontario.org. The meeting agenda and meeting documents are available below.

Participation from Outside Toronto

Queer Ontario welcomes and encourages participation in this meeting from members and friends outside of Toronto. QO is in the process of evaluating the best method by which to include those who are unable to attend in person (i.e. Skype, Cover It Live, Ustream, etc.). Notice of the online participation process will be posted once the steering committee and senior coordinator nominees are announced.

Voting and Proxies

Please note that Queer Ontario participating members (those who participated in three or more monthly, general or committee meetings between February 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011) are eligible to vote in the elections, to vote on bylaw revisions, and to participate in consensus decisions on other AGM items as required. For voting purposes only, participating members unable to attend may designate a proxy, who need not be a Queer Ontario member. Each individual may hold and cast a maximum of one proxy vote. Participating members holding proxy votes may cast one vote of their own, and one proxy vote. Please bring one piece of valid identification (photo not required) with you to verify your membership or proxy eligibility. 

Steering Committee and Senior Coordinator Nominations

Nominations are now open for positions on Queer Ontario’s steering committee (two at-large positions) and senior coordinators (chair, two-year term; vice-chair, one-year term; secretary, two-year term; treasurer, one-year term). All participating members (those who participated in three or more monthly, general or committee meetings between between February 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011) are eligible to run for these positions. Participating members may nominate themselves, or may be nominated by another participating member with the nominee’s consent. Nominations close on October 24, 2011. Nominees will be posted on the Queer Ontario website shortly after, and notice of the posting will be sent to the general membership.

(Continued…)

September 29, 2011

Queer Ontario Denounces Offensive ICV Ad in National Post

Toronto – Queer Ontario denounces the “advertisement” printed in this past Saturday’s and yesterday’s National Post attacking equity and inclusion practices at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) as nothing more than factually incorrect thinly veiled bigotry and ignorance. Incorrectly “advertising” teaching resource guide material as curriculum, it does nothing more than to distort the truth of the situation and further marginalize the lives of queer and Trans persons of Ontario. 

“Once again, Charles McVety has chosen to rely on distortions of the truth and fear mongering to rile up confusion and create a backlash against what is probably the most equitable and inclusive Board in any publicly funded school in Ontario” says Casey Oraa, Chair of Queer Ontario’s Political Action Committee. Oraa added, “Last time I checked, two key Canadian values are equity and inclusion, both which are accomplished to a degree of excellence beyond any others in Ontario by the TDSB. Their ongoing work to better the lives of LGBTQ students in their schools is commendable and we can only hope other schools Boards across Ontario follow their lead. ”

The “advertisement” which has been printed by the National Post twice now also raises questions about the journalistic integrity of the National Post. “I don’t think it’d be a far stretch to say that the National Post has violated Provision 14: Unacceptable Depictions and Portrayals of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards” says Oraa. He continues “It’s sad that in this day and age that chasing the mighty dollar has won out in this instance over Code and journalistic credibility”.

“We call on everyone who is just as offended by this “advertisement” and the complicity of the National Post in proliferating it to write to Advertising Standards Canada. As well, think of where you put your money and next time you go to buy a National Post, think again.”

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Contacts:

Casey Oraa,
Chairperson,
Political Action Committee,
Queer Ontario
caseyoraa@gmail.com

Nick Mulé,
Chairperson,
Queer Ontario
nickjmule@gmail.com