By Lasia Kretzel

Sask. LGBT group marches for GSA support

Oct 4, 2014 | 4:49 PM

The rain wasn’t the only thing causing rainbows in Saskatoon Saturday as a group of LGBT rights activists gathered to promote safety in schools for the gender diversity community. 

With brightly-coloured signs and umbrellas, the roughly 40 people made their way down Broadway Avenue.

Students like Charlene Moore, 17, say they found a safe haven in their school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs.

“I’ve been really lucky to have the support that I did as early as I did,” Moore, who attended multiple high schools throughout the city, said.  “I think GSA’s in schools make the atmosphere a little bit more comfortable for folks; maybe brings some more understanding, awareness and education to students of the school.”

GSA clubs – formerly known as Gay Straight Alliances – are student-run clubs which help promote safe spaces for students in schools, regardless of their biological sex, gender or sexuality. 

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Community engagement consultant Chandra McIvor said in the past year the number of GSAs in Saskatoon has grown from three to eight. 

Despite the growth, McIvor said some students are not finding support for GSAs within their school’s administration. That lack of support is why many within the LGBT community are calling on the government to make laws to prevent schools from stopping the formation of GSAs. 

“It’s a political call to action that we need to see government intiaitives that prove that all students deserve an antioppressive school environment and access to education freely and safely,” McIvor said.

The province’s antibullying action plan recommended supporting GSAs in schools, but McIvor said they want more “tangible support.”

Other provinces such as Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta have already passed similar legislation ensuring students can form GSAs. 

Also, despite growth and growing support in public schools, McIvor said catholic schools continue to lag behind. The only catholic school in Saskatoon to adopt a GSA is Oskyak High School. 

The group would also like to see gender explicitly covered in the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.

“It’s not enough to cover under biological sex because that’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about gender identity; that originates from your mind,” McIvor said. 

With the legislature set to resume on Oct. 22, Saturday’s marchers hope LGBT rights will be top of the agenda.

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