Post by Ayla on Mar 16, 2016 13:08:23 GMT 8
www.metronews.ca/news/edmonton/2016/03/15/edmonton-catholic-passes-transgender-protection-.html
Edmonton Catholic School trustees passed a policy to protect transgender students Tuesday evening, but critics argue it isn't strong enough and are calling for the education minster to step in.
In a 5-2 vote, trustees approved the policy, which states schools should be free of any type of discrimination and be “fully inclusive.”
But chair Marilyn Bergstra, who along with Trustee Patricia Grell voted against the policy, said the document wouldn’t adequately protect kids.
She said her support for LGBT youth led many to send her intolerant comments.
“Some of the commentary I received was so over the top, so full of bias and hate, that I questioned my safety at some times.”
Bergstra said she feared for what LGBT youth are going through in light of that experience.
Trustee Larry Kowalczyk read from Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith’s letter to defend his vote in favour of the policy.
Kowalczyk said it was important to protect people from discrimination, but also to defend Catholic education.
“I will continue to work with Catholic parents to ensure their children are taught the Catholic values they sent their children to Catholic schools for in the first place,” he said.
The mother of a transgendered girl who filed a human rights complaint against the board said the new policy is no better than when the board first started this debate.
“We had that 15 months ago when my daughter was forced to use the gender-neutral washroom," she said.
The mom, who Metro doesn't identify to protect her daughter’s identity, said Education Minister David Eggen should reject the board’s offering.
“I would expect him to say this is a complete lack of effort and it protects nobody and he will do what he was appointed to do.”
Edmonton Catholic School trustees passed a policy to protect transgender students Tuesday evening, but critics argue it isn't strong enough and are calling for the education minster to step in.
In a 5-2 vote, trustees approved the policy, which states schools should be free of any type of discrimination and be “fully inclusive.”
But chair Marilyn Bergstra, who along with Trustee Patricia Grell voted against the policy, said the document wouldn’t adequately protect kids.
She said her support for LGBT youth led many to send her intolerant comments.
“Some of the commentary I received was so over the top, so full of bias and hate, that I questioned my safety at some times.”
Bergstra said she feared for what LGBT youth are going through in light of that experience.
Trustee Larry Kowalczyk read from Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith’s letter to defend his vote in favour of the policy.
Kowalczyk said it was important to protect people from discrimination, but also to defend Catholic education.
“I will continue to work with Catholic parents to ensure their children are taught the Catholic values they sent their children to Catholic schools for in the first place,” he said.
The mother of a transgendered girl who filed a human rights complaint against the board said the new policy is no better than when the board first started this debate.
“We had that 15 months ago when my daughter was forced to use the gender-neutral washroom," she said.
The mom, who Metro doesn't identify to protect her daughter’s identity, said Education Minister David Eggen should reject the board’s offering.
“I would expect him to say this is a complete lack of effort and it protects nobody and he will do what he was appointed to do.”