Ontario Attempts to Close Loophole Preventing Catholic Schools From Naming Clubs Gay-Straight Alliances

Details: Category: LGBT Issues; Published on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 19:52; Written by Lara Landis; Hits: 332

A new Ontario law would prevent schools from vetoing the name of student clubs. Opponents of the law say that it makes religious freedom a second-class right in Canada. Unlike similar laws in the United States, religious schools were not offered an exemption.

Under the old rules, schools had the final say about what students could name their clubs. Many Catholic schools did not allow students to name their schools Gay-Straight Alliances. Such anti-homophobia clubs are common.

The original bill included this phrase, “people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, including organizations with the name Gay-Straight alliance or another name”.

Progressive Conservatives have also urged the province's legislature to remove the language from the bill that mentions Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals, according to The Star. President Obama recently attempted to force Catholic organizations to provide birth control by forcing the insurance providers they use to pay for contraceptive coverage. The administration's attempt to force Catholic organizations insurance companies to pay for birth control resulted in over forty organizations filing a lawsuit against the United States government.

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Ontario Attempts to Close Loophole in Law