Provincial Government Changes Its Mind on GSA’s

GSAs (Gay Straight Alliances) are identified as a critical change agent that can help to create safe, caring and inclusive schools for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, queer (LGBTQ) students and their allies.
On Tuesday March 11th, PC government passed a new law making the approval of gay-straight alliances mandatory in Alberta schools, a move celebrated as a huge step forward for human rights in Alberta. Education Minister Gordon Dirks brought forward the amendment to the government’s Bill 10 on the first day of the spring session. The new law forces all schools in the province to allow gay-straight alliances (GSAs) on school property at a student’s request. It will apply to all public, private and charter schools when takes effect June 1.
Although this law is new to most of Alberta, some schools in the Rocky View School Division have already embraced GSA’s. Bev LaPeare, Ward 2 Trustee with Rocky View Schools says, “Quite honestly, the GSA decision won’t have any impact on RVS as our division already allows GSA’s if they’re asked for. A few years ago at ASBA we were one of a minority of School Boards that voted in favour of Boards across the province having something in policy that addresses the need for respect and tolerance when it comes to the LGBTQ community. Although the motion did not pass, we created our own policy that states the following:
“The Board believes excellence in education is nurtured within respectful working and learning environments. All trustees, employees, students, parents, contractors, volunteers and visitors share responsibility for creating and maintaining a respectful environment. The Board expects any allegations of conduct detrimental to the intent of this policy will be investigated. The policy goes on to define harassment, discriminatory harassment, non-discriminatory harassment and bullying. In terms of discriminatory harassment we have the definition:
“Discriminatory Harassment: A form of harassment based on the protected grounds outlined within Human Rights legislation and is against the law. This includes race, religious beliefs, colour, place of origin, gender, physical or mental disability, age, ancestry, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation, including LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning).”
LaPeare went on to say, “RVS currently already has 3 GSA’s and as well we have 6 secondary schools and 12 elementary schools that have at least one club that supports diversity (acceptance, belonging, etc.) 7 elementary schools also have anti-bullying clubs. The bottom line is that we’re a public school division and we believe that every person that walks through our doors deserves respect and that every person that walks through our doors needs to be respectful”.
Rocky View School division has 3 fully formed GSA’s and 2 that are in the process of forming. The 3 that are formed are Bert Church High School in Airdrie, Springbank Community High School and George Mac High School in Airdrie. There is one at Cochrane High that is almost formed and there is also one that’s developing at W.H. Croxford High School, in Airdrie.
LaPeare also said, “I’ve talked to Jordan Fenton at Chestermere High School and although there’s not one there yet, there’s absolutely no problem with forming one if he was approached….this conversation occurred before the legislation came down”.
Trustee LaPeare also explained that, “students are the ones that feel the need for a GSA to be developed and then they go forward with the support of a teacher/administration. They work a little differently in each school but they are all a support mechanism for our students”.
Teachers looking for support and guidance in organizing a GSA can turn to The Alberta Teachers’ Association website where there are all sorts of guides and tools for how to properly organize and run a GSA.