Gay-straight alliance bill defeated in Alberta legislature

by Craig Takeuchi on April 9th, 2014 at 9:08 AM

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A motion to make gay-straight alliances mandatory in Alberta schools has been defeated.

The motion, by Calgary Liberal MLA Kent Hehr, would have required schools to create a GSA if students requested one.

It was defeated in the legislature on April 7 by a vote of 31 to 19. The Liberals and NDP voted for the bill but most of the Conservatives and Wildrose voted against it.

On Twitter, Hehr tweeted that he was disappointed but would continue to pursue action.

There are currently 40 Albertan GSAs, all in public Albertan schools.

In June 2012, Ontario passed an antibullying bill that requires schools to create GSAs and in September 2013, Manitoba followed suit, in spite of resistance from religious groups.

Recent UBC studies have found that schools with GSAs and antihomophobia policies have lower rates of alcohol abuse, and suicide and discrimination.