Re: Anti-bullying bill a front for 'sex ed' religious groups say, Dec. 7

The Toronto Star

Letter published December 10, 2011: Battling the bully
Original article published December 7, 2011

Shame on those individuals and groups who are making the government's anti-bullying bill a political football for their own purposes. This bill is not about promoting a certain agenda; it is about protecting students regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion or disability. It is not an affront to the family values of decent, respectful people who believe that all children, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, need protection from bullying.

There is a reason why the bill spells out that those bullied on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity are included in the act. It is a response to the fact that certain groups continue to react with, and fuel, homophobia, every time the subject is raised in the context of providing safe and welcoming schools for all our students.

This anti-bullying bill and the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the school curriculum is not about "promoting" a certain lifestyle. It is about educating students, staff, parents and the broader school community to accept and respect the diversities that we as teachers see in students of all ages, and stop the bullying.

That is a fundamental value that homophobic groups would be well advised to recognize.

Sam Hammond, President
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, Toronto