Dear Editor,
Re: “LGBTQ students demand policy change-now,” News, Nov. 9.
It was disturbing, reading comments from students Nathan Lee and Alyssa Osten, about the slurs, such as homo, faggot and tranny, that they and other LGBTQ students had to endure during the school years, just because of who they are.
It takes me back to my school years and the comments we made to other students because of who they were, whether they wore glasses, we thought were nerdy or preferred painting and poetry to soccer and rugby.
I still feel sick about my behaviour all these years later.
Full marks to the school board for not only listening to the students, but promising to act on their demands, although they made no promise of a time line.
Kudos to Couns. Derek Dang and Bill McNulty and MLA John Yap and others for supporting the students by signing their petition.
It was interesting reading the comments of school trustee Jonathan Ho, who said he supports the students’ rights, but then added, the board has received opposition from such parents concerned about “traditional values” and “parents’ rights.”
Since when has traditional values allowed people to discriminate against who they please, in this case members of the LGBTQ community?
Also, do parents’ rights include being able to stop schools providing safe and comforting places for students to feel accepted and safe among friends?
Your freedom of religion stops when our freedom from religion starts!
Alan Halliday
Richmond
