The above youtube link provides a video narrate by Jazmine Khan a transgender individual who provides a positive commentary on how the a program called Out in Schools has provided him and many other sexual minorities with an easier “coming out” transition and a support system. The OIS program is a high school outreach program that uses video presentations and workshops to engage youth and educators on the issues related to homophobia and violence. The purpose of the program is to promote safer and more diverse communities that are free from discrimination and bullying (Out in Schools, 2010). He also contends that Culture Guard a neo-conservative advocacy group has posted a video on their website claiming the OIS program is not about anti-bullying but is a program that exposes students to homosexual pornography.
The ideological views of the neo-conservatives are far from accepting the equalization of the LGBTTQ groups because it violates their traditional beliefs and values. Neo-conservatives are known to abide by the doctrine of the Bible, so they believe in a societal foundation of “the traditional, heterosexual, married couple with children...” (Mullaly, 2007, p. 75). As a result of their beliefs, attempts have been made to stop the development of social policies and programs in schools that support LGBTTQ groups.
Attempts have been made by people in the media to stop the OIS school program from entering schools in Vancouver, B.C. For example, Culture Guard president Kari Simpson had made an attempt to get the media and police involved in shutting down an Out in School s program (Barsotti, September 14, 2011). Kari Simpson, in a recent news paper article, made many accusations about the program in which she claimed it is a waste of taxpayers’ money and “introduce[s] children into homosexist politics and pornography” (Barsotti, September 14, 2011). Mullaly (2007) suggests that when neo-conservatives feel like their status quo is being threatened by social democratic groups (in this case, the implementation of anti-homogenous programs in schools), they will exercise their power in an attempt to prevent this from happening. Fortunately, Kari Simpson’s attempts to bring the program to a standstill were unsuccessful, in which a police spokesperson commented, “this is the first I’ve heard of it” (Barsotti, September 14, 2011).
In Xtra Canada's Gay and Lesbian News, Barsotti (September 14, 2011) interviewed Out on Screen executive director Drew Dennis, who stated that “[t]he Out in Schools teachers learning resource guide includes student work units and meets Ministry of Education prescribed learning outcomes...” and “[t]eachers have a lot of confidence in our presentations, and we’re only showing age-appropriate films in the high schools”. Regardless of the video created by Kari Simpson, many people - colleagues, families, funders - are still in support of the OIS programs being implemented in schools. They believe the program has shown to have a positive impact on students, especially sexual minorities (Barsotti, September 14, 2011).
In Xtra Canada's Gay and Lesbian News, Barsotti (September 14, 2011) interviewed Out on Screen executive director Drew Dennis, who stated that “[t]he Out in Schools teachers learning resource guide includes student work units and meets Ministry of Education prescribed learning outcomes...” and “[t]eachers have a lot of confidence in our presentations, and we’re only showing age-appropriate films in the high schools”. Regardless of the video created by Kari Simpson, many people - colleagues, families, funders - are still in support of the OIS programs being implemented in schools. They believe the program has shown to have a positive impact on students, especially sexual minorities (Barsotti, September 14, 2011).
According to Mullaly (2007), the social ideological belief of neo-conservatism is that “the role of the state is to provide law and order... it does not interfere in the economy by... helping the unsuccessful” (p. 80). The neo-conservatives are against revolutionary adjustments to their view on traditional society, in which they hold a preference to sustain their values and beliefs – otherwise societal change is proceeded with “extreme caution” (Mullaly, 2007, p. 70). An example of exclusivity was witnessed within my First Nations community, as a counsellor attempted to implement a social policy that would ban gay people from entering the reserve - whether the individual was from the reserve or not. This Neo-conservative belief was quickly put to rest in a band meeting by another counsellor and community members. The community member proceeded to state, “your daughter is gay, are you going to ban her from the reserve too?”
Neo-conservatives view the lifestyle of sexual minorities as immoral, in which this was displayed by the Coptic Churches in Toronto, Ontario. According to Toronto news reporters, Casey & Brown (August 5, 2011), the Toronto Catholic District School Board was to vote on an equity policy that would endorse equality for individuals who identified as LGBTTQ. In response to this vote, “[t]he Coptic church is threatening to pull its children from Toronto’s Catholic schools if the board goes ahead with its equity policy…” which in turn “could cost the board up to $40 million” (Casey & Brown, August 5, 2011). Further, Mullaly (2007) states that “the more [social] services the state provides, the more it weakens the traditional source of welfare... [such as] the family, and... the churches” (p. 85).
Neo-conservatives view the lifestyle of sexual minorities as immoral, in which this was displayed by the Coptic Churches in Toronto, Ontario. According to Toronto news reporters, Casey & Brown (August 5, 2011), the Toronto Catholic District School Board was to vote on an equity policy that would endorse equality for individuals who identified as LGBTTQ. In response to this vote, “[t]he Coptic church is threatening to pull its children from Toronto’s Catholic schools if the board goes ahead with its equity policy…” which in turn “could cost the board up to $40 million” (Casey & Brown, August 5, 2011). Further, Mullaly (2007) states that “the more [social] services the state provides, the more it weakens the traditional source of welfare... [such as] the family, and... the churches” (p. 85).
I believe the OIS programs should be implemented in schools because education is the key to understanding the experiences of sexual minority students. Social workers working in the school setting must advocate for the implementation of school prevention programs related to homophobia and violence. School social workers could also provide support to LGBTTQ students through such programs and provide supportive counselling services as needed. Programs such as OIS, would allow students to be more aware of the issues surrounding LGBTTQ groups. On the other hand, I feel that if the neo-conservatives have the ability to control the vision of the state, they also have the ability to influence social policies in school settings, and among many other social institutions, negatively impacting sexual minorities. If these social policies are implemented, sexual minorities will be further discriminated against and the efforts made by many who believe and continue to fight for the acceptance of LGBTTQ groups will be dismantled. I believe social policies should be put in place to allow LGBTTQ groups to reach their full potential as equals in our Canadian society.
Stephanie M.
References
Barsotti, N. (2011), September 14). Simpson files police complaint against anti-homophobia program. Xtra. Canada’s Gay and Lesbian News. Retrieved from
Casey, L., & Brown, L. (2011, August 5). Coptic church threatens to withdraw students over gay policy. Toronto Star. Retrieved from http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/education/article/1035498--coptic-catholics-threaten-to-withdraw-students-over-gay-policyDU Queer and Ally Commission (2007). Safe zone definitions: Terms commonly associated with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer & Questioning communities. University of Illinois Springfield Safe Zone Program. Retrieved from http://www.du.edu/cme/pdf/DUstarterLGBTIQAterms.
Mullaly, R. (2007). The new structural social work ( 3rd ed.). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.
Out in Schools ( 2010). Retrieved from http://www.outinschools.com
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