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Toronto,ONMay21,2013
QueerOntarioquestionsMinisterofEducationandOntarioPremier onimplementationofAcceptingSchoolsAct
InlightofanattemptbytheTorontoCatholicDistrictSchoolBoard(TCDSB)tonotpermittheirstudents theabilitytoformGayStraightAlliances(GSAs)orsimilarlynamedstudentgroupsadirect contraventionofBill13,theAcceptingSchoolsAct,passedlastJuneprovincialsocialjusticegroup QueerOntarioisaskingofMinisterofEducationLizSandalsandPremierKathleenWynne: WhatistheMinistryofEducationandtheGovernmentofOntariopreparedtodoif,asthe TorontoCatholicDistrictSchoolBoardmightdoattheirMay23BoardMeeting:aschoolboard passesamotionthatspecificallybansLGBTTIQaffirmingstudentgroups? TheAcceptingSchoolsActexplicitlygivesstudentsinallschoolboardsinOntariotherighttoformGSAs orsimilarlynamedgroupsthatpromoteasafeandinclusivelearningenvironment,theacceptanceofand respectforothers,andthecreationofapositiveschoolclimate...Yetdespitethis,TCDSBTrustee GarryTanuantabledamotionsecondedbyTrusteeJohndelGrande,seekingtochallengetheActunder theclaimthatitunderminestheCatholicfaithanditsteachings. NickMul,ChairpersonofQueerOntario,statesthatOurhopeisthattheLiberalGovernmentwill unequivocallyensurecompliancewithTheAcceptingSchoolsActfromallschoolboardsacrossOntario, sothatstudentsareabletolearninasafe,inclusive,accepting,andrespectfulenvironment,regardlessof whatschoolboardtheyreenrolledin.PartofthereasonwhyBill13wasenactedwasbecausethe LiberalsfailedtoimplementPPM145,whichalsopermittedtheestablishmentofGSAs.Andso,wewant anassurancethattheLiberalGovernmentwillstandbythiscarefullydevelopedlegislation. ThefulltextofQueerOntarioslettertoMinisterSandalsandPremierWynnecanbefoundat http://queerontario.org/2013/05/21/bill13letter. Themotion,AntiBullyingClubsPolicyChange,willbe debated7:00PMonMay23,2013,attheTorontoCatholicDistrictSchoolBoardHeadOffice. QueerOntarioisaprovincialnetworkofgenderandsexuallydiverseindividualsandtheirallieswho arecommittedtoquestioning,challenging,andreformingthelaws,institutionalpractices,andsocialnorms thatregulatequeerpeople. 30 Forinterviews: NickMul,QueerOntarioChairperson 4169269135 nickjmule@gmail.com
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