It may seem like stating the obvious, but the safety and security of all children is simply more important than politics.
It may seem like stating the obvious, but the safety and security of all children is simply more important than politics. Some might argue with the concept, but it is also more important than religious dogma (constitutional or otherwise) and unquestionably more important than pride.
That is why, to many fair-minded Albertans, the provincial government's bumbling and stumbling actions surrounding Bill 10 and gay-straight alliances within publicly-funded high schools seems so mind-boggling backward.
The current debate started with a bill proposed by Alberta Liberal Laurie Blakeman requiring all school boards to create the peer-support groups despite earlier parental rights legislation, which has since been called “one of the most discriminatory pieces of legislation in the country.” Premier Jim Prentice, likely foreseeing the political nightmare that would ensue should his caucus defeat the Liberal bill in a free vote, introduced legislation to give school boards the final word and telling students they'd have to launch court challenges if the boards refused. Amendments followed that would give the education minister the power to create the clubs, even if school boards said no and if the groups were not allowed on school property. Prentice finally put the bill on hold indefinitely, describing the debate as divisive.
Divisive, yes, and just so wrong. Here we sit, with children watching their parents, teachers, political and religious leaders with open eyes and what messages are they receiving? That they are bad, because they are somehow different, even in the nascent stages of their lives? That they are the cause of so much trouble? That it is important to hold your own beliefs above the beliefs of all others? That it is better to be silent than to be different?
True, many adults from all sides of the political and religious spectrum have come out in favour of the peer support groups, but let's hope more damage has not been done.
Edmonton Catholic Schools Trustee Patricia Grell says in her thoughtful blog, that the gay-straight alliances are really pastoral care groups with another name. If students struggling with body image or female empowerment issues need a place to turn, why shouldn't gay students, she asks.
Many of us know of families, or perhaps are members of families, that have survived the anguish of teenage suicides. Sadly, we know that many of these deaths are driven by issues surrounding sexuality, such as confusion, bullying, guilt and loneliness.
St. Albert resident and PC MLA Thomas Lukaszuk went to the heart of the debate in the legislature when he eloquently put Bill 10 in perspective.
“This is a fact, we have children among us who require help. These kids commit suicide ... How many children do we allow to die until the other side becomes comfortable with this concept?”
Indeed. Prejudice, by any name, should not be the basis for public policy when even one young life is at stake.
