While it’s good that the provincial Liberals introduced Bill 202, a bill making the establishing of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) mandatory in all schools in Alberta, there appeared from the onset to be some issues around it.

Amongst some of the major opposition to it was how the bill, officially known as the Safe and Inclusive School Act, circumvents the authority of local school boards and, say critics, does not take into account the wishes of parents in deciding what is right for their children.

In response to these concerns, the provincial Conservatives, under Jim Prentice, have introduced their own bill: Bill 10, the Act to Amend the Alberta Bill of Rights to Protect Our Children. Prentice has said that Bill 10 is an attempt to "strike a balance" among the various factions concerning GSAs. Critics of Bill 10, however, say the measure is being rushed through the legislature as an ‘end-run’ around the Liberals’ Bill 202. Prentice has also said that Bill 10 is designed to accommodate students, parents who want to decide for themselves what their child learns in school, and the various school boards to retain their ability to make autonomous decisions.

Bill 202 would, in effect, force those school boards which, for whatever reason, did not want to have a GSA established in a particular school, to allow it to be put in place.

In a November news conference Prentice said Bill 202, introduced by Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman, was "unnecessarily divisive", adding, "this is too important an issue to be reduced to a political game". He said that MLAs felt they were being asked to "cast aside" parental rights and the autonomy of local school boards.

"When faced with such an unfair and unbalanced approach, I believe that it is the job of a Premier and the job of a government to show leadership and to build consensus because rights need to be advanced, because children need to be protected, because parents need to be reassured, and because school boards need to be respected."

Sarah Hoffman, chairperson of the Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB), felt no issue with Bill 202. Hoffman pointed out there are already 25 GSAs within the Edmonton system with school staff and members of the EPSB helping students start clubs.

"I am really proud of the fact that at Edmonton Public Schools, if you want to form a GSA, you are supported in any school, any program, in making sure that you have a safe place to meet and support each other," she said. Bill 202 would simply formalize that process.

The bill would have repealed Section 11.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act, which requires a parent or guardian be notified if sexual orientation will be discussed in the classroom. At the same time, however, the bill expands the parental ‘opt-out’ clause in Section 58 of the Education Act to allow parents to notify schools if they do not want their children to have sexual health education.

It could be said that Prentice is being somewhat disingenuous when he says the issue of GSAs and the support of LGBTQ students in our schools is "too important an issue to be reduced to a political game" when his own government introduces what is essentially a counter bill to 202. This is exactly "playing politics" as far as I can discern.

Bill 202 has the support of members of all parties. As NDP leader Rachel Notley pointed out, legislation exists in other provinces to allow for GSAs when and where students have indicated a need or desire for one.

Basically all Bill 202 would have done is to mandate school boards to develop policies to support students wanting to start a GSA by providing a meeting space and other resources, just like any other school club currently enjoys. What GSAs do is bring together LGBTQ students and their non-LGBTQ allies to increase awareness around LGBTQ issues and to fight homophobia and transphobia in the school environment. Various studies have shown having access to a GSA club at school decreases the possibility of suicide, not just amongst LGBTQ kids – who are at high risk of suicide – but also amongst heterosexual students as well.

The president of the Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association and chairperson of Elk Island Catholic Schools, Tony Sykora, views GSAs as exclusive rather than inclusive and directly opposes them. He says trustees are "pretty eager" to read Prentice’s Bill 10.

Sykora said the trustees are, of course, concerned about the safety of all children including those who are LGBTQ, adding that Catholic school board policies do not "segregate different traits" but promote inclusion in diversity clubs. He went on to say he believes a GSA would "invoke something that is exclusive rather than inclusive" and that "bullying is bullying and we stand against that."

Danielle Smith, leader of the conservative Wildrose Party, has stated Bill 202 "looks like a bill [she] could support" while pointing out that because the Wildrose caucus permits free votes, not all Wildrose MLAs would vote in favour of the bill, depending on their individual beliefs or views. "I think there are potentially some amendments we could propose that would allow more of my colleagues to be able to support [the bill] as well," she said. What those might be, she didn’t say.

Her comments came after a vote by Wildrose members at a party convention against making a statement the party adopted a year ago on equality rights party policy.

The defeated proposal had been worded to pledge to defend the rights of all people "regardless of race, religious belief, colour, gender, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation of that person or class of persons."

Wildrose members, instead, opted to retain the party’s existing policy, which states, in part, "all Albertans have equal rights, privileges and responsibilities."

In addition, the party caucus voted during the spring session against a non-binding motion by the Liberals to support GSAs.

The 148-109 defeat of the expanded statement of equality rights led to the resignation of Wildrose MLA Terrance Lo, vice-president of communications for the party’s Calgary-Glenmore Constituency Association.

Lo blogged the "vote confirmed for me that the misguided angry beliefs of a minority of the rank-and-file holds actual sway in party policy" and that the party, by defeating the expanded definition, "took a dangerous step back".

Lo is also the father of a gay son.

Smith, in response to Lo’s resignation, said members voted the expanded statement down because the existing statement already encompassed minority groups.

For something that seems so straight-forward (no pun intended) and simple, our politicians are certainly making it appear complicated. Schools have a variety of "special interest" clubs ranging from the drama club to the chess club to computer clubs, and nobody blinks an eye over those. But GSAs deal with sexual orientation. Which sounds like sex, or homosexual sex at that. Only, of course, GSAs would not deal with ‘homosexual sex’ at all, but with being LGBTQ. Quite two different things.

The whole issue of parents being concerned over what is being taught to their children is a red herring. GSAs aren’t about teaching anything to anybody and they, like any school club, exist outside the classroom setting, albeit under school jurisdiction. I’m guessing here, but I would say there may well be some students who would go to a GSA meeting who, in fact, are not out to their parents. GSAs supply a safe environment for such students and could well assist in their coming out process, part of which may very well involve coming out to parents and family, if the student decided to do so, and to do so in a safe manner.

Alternatively, GSAs also supply an environment in which heterosexual students can learn more about what it is to live as a gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans person. This insight reduces preconceived ideas (or prejudice), and that is always a good thing. Contrary to Mr. Sykora’s notion, GSAs are all about inclusiveness and not about excluding anyone. The clubs offer an opportunity for education around differences and to convey support for fellow students. Again, a very good thing.