On Tuesday night, the Rocky Mountain Civil Liberties Association held one of two public hearings about the issue of Gay Straight Alliances here in Alberta. It’s something that we’ve been talking about for years here in Alberta and it’s something that I’m certainly passionate about.
When Premier Prentice announced they’d be putting homophobic Bill 10 on hold in December, he said he would consult with the public. So far, he hasn’t. So, Rocky Mountain Civil Liberties Association invited people on all sides of the issue to come to the hearings, but as you can probably guess, only one side showed up. The crowded room featured members of different faiths, different back grounds, different orientations and different parties. What it didn’t have were any members from the Catholic community, or Premier Prentice or Education Minister Gordon Dirks, who has been perhaps the most silent on the issue (Which I think can be explained here.)
I was there because I believe this is important. I wanted to help share the issues that are facing Alberta’s youth and I wanted them to know that they are not alone, even if sometimes feels like they are.
These are my tweets from the night. My hope is that you read them, share them, and tell government officials how important it is to have Gay Straight Alliances in all schools. Not some schools, not under another name and not off school grounds, in all schools.
I’m at the public consultations for Gay Straight Alliances in Alberta schools. Follow along at #abgsahearing pic.twitter.com/H3MG6AH6uH
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 27, 2015
Both bishops of Alberta’s catholic school boards were invited to attend. Both declined. #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 27, 2015
“I’m terrified because I sit up here defending my life.” Carla Bertsch. #abgsahearing pic.twitter.com/6RWL8gpPIX
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 27, 2015
“It’s a reduction of my citizenship. I didn’t ask to be born and here I am defending my rights to be alive.” Carla Bertsh at #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 27, 2015
No one asked Carla Bertsch to speak tonight. She is a private citizen. As a closeted teacher, she created a GSA. #Bill10. #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 27, 2015
Rabbi Shaul Osadchey says the presumption by some that sexual orientation is a choice, is incorrect. #ABGSAhearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 27, 2015
Rabbi Shaul Osadchey is reciting bible verses that supersede Leviticus 20:13. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 27, 2015
“If we love our children and want to guide them to strengthen their respect, then we should allow GSAs.” Rabbi Shaul Osadchey #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 27, 2015
“If we love our children, then we should protect them.” Rabbi Shaul Osadchey #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 27, 2015
Rabbi Shaul Osadchey attendance is important, since the catholic church chose to send zero representation. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 27, 2015
“There is a limitation to a parent’s right to curb the rights of others.” -Rabbi Shaul Osadchey. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Homophobia is rampant in schools. I’ve heard teachers making fun of transgendered parents.” Andrew Clapperton, teacher. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Calgary’s GSA network allowed me to feel safe to be who I am. It has been night and day.” #ABGSAHearing pic.twitter.com/j6a7dSemU5
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“If we’re not there to support students, what are we there for?” Andrew Clapperton, teacher. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“If we’re not there to support students, what are we there for?” Andrew Clapperton, teacher. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Who is the largest stakeholder affected by this bill is not the parents, the school boards, it’s the students!” Mike Dinel #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“I’ve seen students murdered, commit suicide and attempt suicide.” Mike Dinel, teacher running Alberta’s largest GSA. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“I just lost a friend to suicide. She didn’t have support. I want my friends to be here. It kills part of me.” Alexis Hood. #ABGSAhearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
I gotta be honest, it’s really hard to sit here at times. I wish Prentice and Dirks could hear these powerful speakers. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“This isn’t just about LGTBQ students, it’s about creating safer schools for all. “-@pamsterini. #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Binge drinking as a whole is reduced in schools with GSAs.” -Pam Krause #abgsahearing pic.twitter.com/X66Xn8p8fR
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Research tells us when there is a GSA’s in schools, there are better outcomes.” @YYCSexualHealth‘s Brian Hansen. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
GSAs are the only support for Alberta’s rural youth. They don’t have agencies like @YYCSexualHealth. #ABGSAhearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“GSAs go beyond schools, it goes into students’ lives. They leave school healthier and happier.” Brian Hansen. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Many homes are still unsafe for LGTBQ youth.” -Lee Allard. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Why not start where we know a difference can be made? This is a matter of human rights” -Lee Allard. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“It might just be what keeps them from running away, harming themselves or worse.” @yycsexualhealth‘s Lee Allard. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Harassment comes from students, media (etc..), now we see it comes from our government.” Greg Clark. #ABGSAHearing pic.twitter.com/roFA37iwF9
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“We need to draw distinction between parent rights and parent authority. Authority and rights are not the same.” Greg Clark. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“We need to help the voiceless find their voices.” -Greg Clark. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
There was one PC MLA at #abgsahearing, he has since left. Does that mean we convinced you @MikeEllisPC?
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Bill 10 is meant to protect students, but forces them into conflict with school administration.” Patrick Shannon, #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Education Minister Gordon Dirks is not at #ABGSAHearing. In what world is it okay that he’s not here? How can LGTBQ students trust him?
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“If Bill 10 were to pass, there will be complaints to the Alberta Human Rights commission.”-Patrick Shannon #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
PC supporters really should have a conversation with themselves. The stories tonight are heartbreaking. PCs only making worse. #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Nothing a GSA does prevents a social conservative from expressing their view. #ABGSAhearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“If this bill passes, there will be litigation. Both sides will go to court.” Patrick Shannon, Alberta Civil Liberties. #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Both Prentice and Dirks insist they support LGTBQs. Neither have done anything to prove it. Attending #abgsahearing would have been a start.
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“I can’t understand why our children are being forced into murdering themselves.” Rork Hilford. #ABGSAHearing pic.twitter.com/zDpJBzQSfh
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
On government subsidizing private/religious schools. “We’re actually paying for people to discriminate.” Rork Hilford #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“We are a cess pool of religious intolerance and peculiar politics.” Rork Hilford, marriage commissioner. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
I wish I could transcribe all of Rork Hilford’s presentation. “I’m tired of having religious hands in my pockets.” #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
I wish I could transcribe all of Rork Hilford’s presentation. “I’m tired of having religious hands in my pockets.” #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“It’s time that we put human rights ahead of religious dogma.” Rork Hilford, Marriage Commissioner. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Until today, the government has had zero public consultation on GSAs.” -Laurie Blakeman. There are no PCs here. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
.@laurieblakeman showing Bill 202. The bill that most agree is best for LGTBQ youth. PCs dumped it. #ABGSAHearing pic.twitter.com/4ly94fLJPN
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Who pays when a child is told that the LGTBQ lifestyle is a bad lifestyle. We pay.” Laurie Blakeman. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Section 11.1 is deliberately evil.”-@laurieblakeman. That makes schools tell parents if sexual orientation will be discussed. #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Why would we allow 25% of the parents with kids in religious/home school education to push the rest of us around?” Blakeman #ABGSAhearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“You must reach out to your MLA and ministers and tell them what you want. If you did, do it again.” Laurie Blakeman. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“No one has presented to me an argument how a religious belief allows you to discriminate against a child.” Laurie Blakeman #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete the #ABGSAHearing survey. https://t.co/xiBV6GMZel
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Brent Alexander is a parent and tonight’s 14th speaker. No one (yet) has shown support for Bill 10. #abgsahearing pic.twitter.com/eEH7YL0TW8
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Schools should make every effort to make every student to feel safe.” Janet Keeping, Alberta’s Green Party. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Schools should make every effort to make every student to feel safe.” Janet Keeping, Alberta’s Green Party. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Schools should make every effort to make every student to feel safe.” Janet Keeping, Alberta’s Green Party. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“The Green Party would hold a referendum to disband religious school boards.” Janet Keeping. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
On Alberta’s separate school system.” It’s over. What made sense in the 1700s doesn’t make sense anymore.” -Janet Keeping #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Green Party’s Janet Keeping says that all schools that receive any funding, in any amount, should allow GSAs. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Why again aren’t the PCs here tonight? Shouldn’t they be engaging in the GSA debate? #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
I’m totally biased, but @richardeinarson is tonight’s most handsome presenter. #ABGSAHearing pic.twitter.com/QtTUe6XKJ1
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“As a gay man, I know how damaging it is when leaders stay silent on LGTBQ issues.” Richard Einarson from @safeschoolsAB. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
On it’s first day, Albertans used @SafeSchoolsAB to send more 4,000 letters to their MLAs. One every eight seconds. #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Albertans have sent more than 7,000 letters to Jim Prentice and Gordon Dirks about Bill 10. Neither are here tonight. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Calgary Jewish Federation’s Jeffrey Smith emphasizes the importance of human rights on the anniversary of Auschwitz. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Youth questioning their sexuality are three times more likely to commit suicide than straight kids.” Jeffrey Smith #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Jeffrey Smith says that the Calgary Jewish community supports GSAs. “They understand all too well…” #abgsahearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“Quite simply, it’s the right thing to do.” Jeffrey Smith, Calgary Jewish Federation. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
#ABGSAHearing featured presentations from two prominent members of the Jewish community. The Catholic church was invited. Declined.
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
As a high school student, Austin Bender was “bullied every day, by everyone.” So he created a GSA. #ABGSAHearing pic.twitter.com/d0hX0N0Xlm
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Wow! Austin Bender’s GSA is attended by 40-50 students a week! It’s a safe place for everyone. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“If people can’t see that GSAs are doing great things, where are they looking? I don’t get it.” Austin Bender. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Austin says that his GSA has changed the culture of his school. “You don’t hear ‘That’s so gay’ anymore.” #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
“People hear ‘gay’ and think gay club. They don’t hear the ‘staight alliance’ part.” Austin Bender, high school student. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Every PC MLA that supports Bill 10 should meet Austin Bender. He is saving lives, @jimprentice @dirksgordon. #ABGSAhearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
When Austin created his GSA, not a single student in his school made fun of him. Not one. #ABGSAHearing
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
That wraps up the #ABGSAHearing for tonight. Thank you for reading. Please complete this survey about GSAs: https://t.co/xiBV6GMZel
— Mike Morrison (@mikesbloggity) January 28, 2015
Im so glad I got to go to that meeting and share everything. I still miss my friend and she would have loved to see our accomplishments and how quickly we can change the province and world.
I know I was listening… but you know I’m passionate about it too. But to help, I put Austin in my last CIA article as well, as well as Tad Milmilne.