Catholic Students are fighting for Gay-Straight Alliances ...

Despite progress made thus far, we have a long way to go in supporting LGBT youth and adults and there is much work to be done.  Today I read an article featured on Xtra.ca - Canada's Gay and Lesbian News, which explains the challenges faced by students at one Catholic high school in Mississauga.

According to the article, student organizers of an anti-homophobia event (held June 3) have come up against a number of challenges from the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board.  For one, students are allowed to form "anti-bullying" groups, but Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) are not allowed.  "Even the name “can’t contain the word “gay.” GSAs are prohibited because “they lead to activism.”" (Xtra.ca).

Student organizers of the June 3 anti-homophobia event submitted a number of proposed resources, most of which were rejected by the Board.  Rejected materials included "the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation’s, Shout Out Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Heterosexism, a booklet designed to educate young people on issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, an AIDS Committee of Toronto flyer, and information about harassment in sports" (Xtra.ca).

It gets worse ... the Board also informed students that they were not allowed to display rainbows on any of their materials, including posters and resources.  So, the students got creative and hid the rainbows - by baking them inside cupcakes, which they then sold to raise money for charity.  The students wanted to donate the approximately $200 raised to Youthline - a Canadian toll-free support line for LGBT youth.  This was rejected as well, and students were told to donate the money to Covenant House, a Catholic homeless shelter.

The students, however, are standing up for diversity.  They are working to bring the issue to Pride in Toronto, in an effort to raise awareness and gain support.  Their plan is to make buttons, which they will hand out at Pride.  To do this, they need our support to raise $1,500.  "Marching in Pride is important to us because it will allow us to advocate for GSAs in Catholic Schools to a large audience,” she says. “Handing out buttons will be an excellent way to spread the message that GSAs are needed in Catholic schools." (Xtra.ca).

Please make a donation today to help these students advocate for GSAs in all Ontario secondary schools.

You can find these students on Facebook

To read the full article, click here: Xtra: Rainbows Banned at Mississauga Catholic School

Thank you for your support!

Candice :)