Bill 13 Approaching Final Vote

Bill 13 is going into final vote, and this has the Catholic leadership, religious groups, and the Sun incensed. It has mobilized protesters and grabbed the national headlines. It’s a fury the likes of which we hadn’t seen yet for this.

They say that this is a violation of religious freedoms, that they’ll sue the Ontario government for years to come, that this violates parental rights, that this is giving privileges to one group of people, that this is government meddling.

They are saying this because of this amended passage in Bill 13:

Every board shall support pupils who want to establish and lead activities and organizations that promote a safe and inclusive learning environment, the acceptance of and respect for others and the creation of a positive school climate, including,

…

(d)  activities or organizations that 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.

All this aggressive rhetoric because students will have a safe space to talk. The religious leaders are framing themselves as martyrs, which may work today, but is so deeply disconnected from reality that it will certainly be looked back upon with incredulity.

Their rights aren’t impinged because students are able to find solace in each other, but there’s no denying that the opponents are up in arms. The thought that these students would be seen as normal is unacceptable to them.

I don’t expect ignorance to disappear tomorrow. But that such views would still be so prevalent among school administrators and enabled by complacent staff members is deeply disappointing. I am equally dismayed that a major political party, the Progressive Conservatives, have embraced this bigotry with open arms.

History will not look back upon these players favourably. They all had a chance to do the right thing. Not only did they squander it, but they fought it every step of the way.

Update: I received a message from a teacher who raised a good point. I post it here with permission:

Hi Julien, I searched Bill 13 and found your recent blog. I am a Catholic secondary teacher and I want you to know that we are not all complacent. I agree with your eloquently written message and want you to know that many teachers are trying to stop the homophobia that is being displayed by some people higher up in our boards. Thanks!