Alberta Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman announced today that she will introduce a Private Members’ Bill aimed at making Alberta’s schools safer and more inclusive.

"I believe the time for this idea has finally come," says Blakeman. "Many who said they would have supported this kind of initiative in the past should now seize this new opportunity to vote their conscience."

Laurie Blakeman, Liberal MLA for Edmonton-Centre, has been advocating for equality, acceptance, and support for Alberta’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community for the better part of two decades. While the progress that has been made on these rights is impressive and worth celebrating, more work still needs to be done.

"Real support means real action," says Blakeman. "This fall, we are proposing to do something really important, something that will change students’ lives for the better."

Bill 202, the Safe and Inclusive School Act, is aimed at making all Alberta schools safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for every student regardless of sexuality, sexual orientation, or gender identity by:

Alberta Liberals have pledged to keep fighting until all LGBTQ students feel safe at school.

"The next victory for the LGBTQ community may take some more hard work and compromise," says Blakeman, "but it will surely come. We are not giving up until all students are free to be who they are, free to gather together in any way they see fit, and our schools are accepting and welcoming of differences."

Blakeman is calling on all Albertans to contact their MLAs and urge them to support her bill in the fall sitting of the Legislature.