Hats off to the students at Robert Moore who pushed to start up a Gay-Straight Alliance club at their school—and kudos to administration for allowing it to happen.
Given the backlash over the recently-revamped sex education curriculum in Ontario schools, no doubt some parents (and others) would oppose such a club at the elementary level.
It’s also clear, however, that too many students still are being bullied over their sexual orientation—words and actions so brutal and never-ending that some are driven to suicide.
And as Robert Moore principal Bill Daley noted, there are students as young as Grade 6 who identify with the LGBTQ community.
Most commendable in this case is that it was the students themselves who took the initiative to form a GSA. They obviously recognized a problem and saw an opportunity to make their school a safer and more inclusive place for their fellow classmates.
Despite their young age, they astutely understood the importance of ending homophobia and celebrating diversity.
Hopefully, the day finally will come when sexual orientation no longer is an issue and GSAs become obsolete.
Until then, other elementary schools in the district—and right across Ontario—would do well to follow Robert Moore’s admirable lead.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
