curriejean

Human Rights and the Gay-Straight Alliance in Toronto's Catholic Schools

Since 2009, the Ontario provincial government has pushed for its Catholic school boards to introduce an anti-discrimination, 'Equity and Inclusive Education' (EIE) policy by September (technically, by today). The reason given for this policy is as follows: “Racism, religious intolerance, homophobia, and gender-based violence are still evident in our communities and – unfortunately – in our schools.”

This has led religious bigots at the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) to throw an ugly tantrum, with the specific goal of continuing to disallow Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) groups in TCDSB schools. The tantrum started out quietly: they first sought to amend the EIE policy to allow 'denominational rights,' (that is, the preferences of Catholic doctrine), to trump the human rights outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC).

I'm not exaggerating; here's a part of one of their proposed (and rejected) amendments to the EIE: "Where there is legal conflict between human rights protections and the protection of denominational rights, the considerations dictated by the denominational rights take precedence." Mmmm, slimy.

The rest is this way.

I haven't watched Miracle Day beyond episode one, but I ran into this... um, thing, so um... Why is Jack screwing Joe Dirt?

Decided not to go overseas. Family is intolerable.

I'm unused to writing over 140 characters at a time.

I'll be in England, Wales and Scotland this summer. Mom's asked me to help with planning, and since I'm better at the Internet, I'll have a lot of influence. The Wales part is all me (I'll be going by myself, leaving the family in London).

Suggestions?

TELL ME WHAT TO DO, FELLOW TRAVELERS AND FANDOMERS WHO STILL KNOW I EXIST.

<3

(Derren Brown, the Who expo, the Frontline club restaurant, and the Plass are already on the itinerary.)

Edit: Uh-oh.