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Calls for B.C. to deal with homophobia, transphobia in schools

February 24th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized

Advocates challenge the government to move farther in the attempt to protect young people from bullying violence

The West Coast Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund is calling on the British Columbia government to implement a province-wide anti-bullying policy that specifically addresses homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools. Research has found that gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and queer kids experience bullying at a much higher rate than other students. Two thirds of LGBTQ students report that they feel unsafe at school and more than 1 in 5 are physically assaulted or harassed due to their sexual orientation. Suicide rates are also high among LGBTQ students.

West Coast LEAF is adding its voice to the many other groups advocating for a province-wide sexual orientation and gender identity policy for B.C. schools. (Read the letter here; opens to PDF).

We speak with Laura Track, legal director at West Coast LEAF.

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