Central BC Gay Straight Alliance Conference

Secondary students and teachers from school districts in the Lower Mainland and Interior of BC gathered to attend a GSA conference on October 28 in Vernon. The one-day conference focussed on the formation and functioning of gay / straight alliance clubs in schools and on developing a network to facilitate and support existing GSAs. This event was jointly sponsored by GALE-BC, the BCTF and the Vernon Teacher’s Association. Thanks to all those who helped organize and facilitated this conference and to those who participated. We look forward to another such conference taking place in the Lower Mainland in the near future.

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Check out the National Day Against Homophobia site

National Day Against Homophobia May 17, 2007: the Education Field

The goal of the National Day Against Homophobia for May 17, 2007, will be to combat homophobia in the sphere of early childhood and in the education field, to raise all participants' awareness, and to support the development of pedagogical tools and to work toward their application.

After the family, it's at school that we learn. School is also an environment in which questions concerning sexual orientation have been ignored, apart from some initiatives made in the past few years. Discovering one's sexuality should be paired with educational programmes or, at the very least, with policies concerning sexual orientation and combating homophobia.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms of the Person prohibits any form of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Abiding by the rights and freedoms of the person should begin at a very young age, during the very first learning stages. Youth need to learn how to respect others on the basis of their difference, regardless of race, religion, ethnic origins, cultural origins or sexual orientation. School should serve as a vehicle for these inclusive values.

All participants in the education field have a role to play in combating homophobia. By applying the charters of rights and freedoms, they have the legal obligation to intervene and to counteract discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as well as for other forms of discrimination.

2007 Campaign Launch - International Day Against Homophobia

Are people born gay or lesbian?
Sexual orientation is not a choice

Montréal, March 2, 2007 – For the International Day Against Homophobia on next May 17, Fondation Émergence is launching its annual awareness campaign. This leads us to ask: Is being gay a question of nature or nurture? So far to date, science has proven itself incapable of providing a definite answer with some sort of consensus. However, there is agreement on one fact: sexual orientation is not a choice. It’s this fact that inspired this year’s campaign theme.

When it comes to sexual orientation, it’s not rare to hear someone say “I respect your choice.” Well no, it’s not a choice. It’s no more a choice than people’s skin or eye color is. The campaign’s theme Sexual orientation is not a choice is illustrated through the image of a newborn baby wearing a hospital wristband that has HOMOSEXU…written on it. This bold image definitely raises questions. Whether sexual orientation is due to nature or nurture has no bearing on gays’ and lesbians’ lives; some day they will discover and become aware of it. In this aspect, they are not different from heterosexuals.

Mr. Laurent McCutcheon, President of Fondation Émergence, said he hopes that “people’s realizing that sexual orientation is not a choice will be enough to put an end to homophobia, which is the main goal of this campaign.”

Specifically for various outreach workers in the education field, the material for this campaign is intended to be educational. The pamphlets provide a large quantity of information on sexual orientation. Teachers, other professionals, parents and all of society will also find a list of resources and educational tools. The posters and pamphlets, in English and in French, are being distributed in communities and can also be ordered from Fondation Émergence through its website for the Day at www.homophobiaday.org.

Let us remind you that May 17 will be the International Day Against Homophobia. We’re inviting the media to place this event on their agendas, schools to hold awareness activities, community organisations to set up activities, and public institutions to pass resolutions in support and to fly the rainbow flag.
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ANNOUNCING: THE PFLAG PATRON PROGRAM! (click here)

Education Petition - Human Rights Petition
Take 15 seconds of your time to make a difference for LGBT youth in schools by signing these online petitions and forwarding this message to your friends and colleagues.