A few weeks ago I got a call from a lady (I didn’t catch her name at the time) urging me to let the members of an organization I used to be on the board of directors of to participate in a protest against Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, that Dalton McGuinty and the Liberal Government have introduced and are in the process of making it law right now.  She didn’t ask me what I thought of it or whether I agreed or disagreed with what the Liberals were planning.  I knew nothing of it at the time, so I just gave her the contact information she needed and left it at that.

I have now been reading up on it and found there actually is a lot of controversy regarding this bill.  What the Liberals are trying to do right now is amend the Education Act to include a new definition of Bullying.  At the heart of the matter is the requirement  under Bill 13 for all students, in Public and Catholic schools, to be taught Equity and Inclusive Education In Ontario Schools guidelines developed by the provincial Ministry of Education. Both Catholic and Public Boards are now required to develop and implement an equity and inclusive education policy and legislation would also require them to support activities or organizations that promote gender equity and promote the awareness and understanding of, and respect for, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, including organizations with the name Gay-Straight Alliance or another name.

Currently Bill 13 is going through its Second Reading Debate (Click Here to Read Bill 13: Accepting Schools Act). Amendments of Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, introduce a new concept of bullying and stronger wording and measures, especially regarding gay and lesbian issues, to prevent bullying-related incidents.  Some amendments would include the promotion of “a healthy, safe and inclusive learning environment where all students feel accepted; students need to be equipped with the knowledge, skills, attitude and values to engage the world and others critically; making their schools and communities more equitable and inclusive for all people.  Everyone — government, educators, school staff, parents, students and the wider community — has a role to play in creating a positive school climate and preventing inappropriate behaviour, such as bullying, sexual assault, gender-based violence and incidents based on homophobia.”

At issue with religious organizations seem to be amendments that many feel favour LGBTTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, transsexual, two-spirited, intersexed, queer and questioning), what many consider a very small percentage of the student population.  Many religious parents firmly believe that sexual education, especially that which introduces young students to gay and lesbian issues, should be left out of the classroom.  Many of them are signing an online petition (Click Here to see “Vote No to Bill 13″ Online Petition) to stop the McGuinty government from passing Bill 13 at the Legislature and making it a law.

The issue has raised a lot of controversy.  The TorontoSun published a note (Toronto Sun: Religious Parents to Protest Anti-Bullying Legislation) when a rally in protest of Bill 13 took place a few weeks ago in Queens Park, which prompted a lot of comments, both against and in favour, from the reading public.  The Legislature has continued to discuss the matter and debates are still ongoing.

It’s hard to say whether passing this law will do anything to prevent bullying.  Personally, I believe that knowledge is power, but ignorance is maybe even more powerful– and not in a positive way.  You can never give kids too much information.  You can give them age-appropriate unbiased information and let them discern and process it on their own, at their level.  I myself was an avid reader from a very young age and full of questions regarding everything.  Was I going to ask my mom (who wasn’t a prude and wouldn’t have hidden anything from me, I’m sure)?  Hellz, no! I might have raised my hand in class, though, knowing that it is the best environment in which to learn about that and everything else.

I don’t think teachers will come to their Jr. K class armed with dildos and sexual paraphernalia to show kids everything there is to know about sex, homosexual or otherwise.  I trust that it will all be taught in an age-appropriate framework and context.  And to tell you the truth, just the fact that a little boy or girl who is confused about their sexuality has the option to at least ask questions and not be condemned or criticized– or even bullied– for it, makes me lean a lot more towards the idea that it is okay to have this subject be dealt with in our educational system.