TORONTO, May 16, 2012 /CNW/ - The Ontario English Catholic Teachers'
Association (OECTA) is proud to recognize May 17 as the International
Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. OECTA members stand in
solidarity with those in the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans-identified
and queer (LGBTQ) community and their allies, in vocal opposition to
homophobia and transphobia.
"It is important to acknowledge that despite a growing awareness of the
threats facing many LGBTQ students, workers and their families, there
is still much to be done to eliminate the threat of discrimination,
harassment and violence in their lives," says OECTA President Kevin
O'Dwyer. "As teachers, we speak out against such threats and take the
necessary actions to protect our school communities."
OECTA has long proclaimed that all are created in the image of God
regardless of age, race, creed, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation,
mental or physical ability. OECTA has a strong history of striving to
achieve equality and justice for all members of society. Included in
this struggle are those who identify as LGBTQ.
Affirmed at its 2012 Annual General Meeting and reinforced earlier this
month with a conference for classroom teachers and administrators on
supporting marginalized and LGBTQ students in Ontario's Catholic
schools, OECTA is committed to building Catholic school communities
that are welcoming, inclusive environments in which all individuals,
including those who are LGBTQ, are safe and respected.
"OECTA will continue to support anti-homophobia education programs and
groups in Catholic schools that have the elimination of homophobic and
transphobic bullying as their goal," says O'Dwyer. "Furthermore, we
call on all parties in the legislature to ensure that all of our
students receive the supports they need to feel safe at school, by
passing as soon as possible the provisions of Bill 13 that specifically
protect LGBTQ students and, by extension, other marginalized students."
OECTA is a teachers' association that represents 45,000 professional
women and men who teach all grades in publicly funded English Catholic
schools in Ontario.
