School district looks to next steps on LGBTQ policy

By Maxwell Rausch

EDMONTON — Edmonton Public Schools needs to develop the regulations to enforce its recently passed policy protecting sexual minorities, says board chair Dave Colburn.

The board unanimously passed its policy to protect LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, questioning) students and staff from discrimination on Nov. 29.

Colburn said the administration’s next step is to set up the “flesh-on-the-bone” regulations to enforce the ideals expressed in the policy.

“While we know implementing this policy will not necessarily happen at 4 o’clock today, it will happen over time once those regulations are in place,” Colburn said after after the board voted the policy through its third and final reading.

Jan Buterman, an Edmonton parent and a transsexual, welcomed the new policy, but acknowledged the resolution’s success will require a cultural shift as well.

“There will need to be extensive discussion and training with the people who work with students and work with their families,” Buterman said after third reading.

Buterman pointed out that the policy is a landmark, as it precedes any provincial or federal legislation that protects gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation.

“The fact that this school board is willing to move forward and put this in place before we have explicit protections federally is absolutely historic and absolutely wonderful.” said Buterman.

“But as we’ve also seen, this is not something that is necessarily being completely, happily, excitedly embraced by everyone in the greater learning community,” he added.

At second reading of the policy on Nov. 8, opponents of the policy told the board that it infringed on parental rights to determine what their children learn about sexuality.

Among them was Jennifer Forsythe, a mother whose children attend Edmonton public schools. Forsythe added that provisions to protect students from bullying are already in place.

“I don’t understand why our current anti-bullying policy can’t be used more forcefully,” she said.

Several students were also among the over 60 speakers who addressed the board at second reading.

Hannah Wiens, head of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Ross Sheppard High School (SGATE), recounted to the board how helpless she felt being victimized because of her sexuality.

“I remember walking down the hallway, with my bully at my back, staring into the apathetic eyes of my teacher,” Wiens said at second reading.

Wiens said an LGBTQ-specific policy is long overdue to help gay students feel safer at school.

Colburn said research done by the board shows LGBTQ-specific policies are more effective at protecting sexual minority students than generic anti-bullying measures.

“The board felt a stand-alone policy afforded the highest level of protection to a population shown to be most vulnerable to persecution, discrimination, bullying and harassment,” he said.

Colburn said that he has seen a great interest in Edmonton Public’s LGBTQ policy from other trustees and administrators across the province, and hopes other boards adopt similar policies.

Hear more comments on Edmonton Public’s LGBTQ policy from Dave Colburn on Alberta Primetime.