04) SAFER SCHOOLS COALITION WINS MAJOR VICTORY

PV Vancouver Bureau

            Five months ahead of the November 2014 civic elections, a new coalition of pro‑equality activists has won a major victory over right‑wing forces attacking the Vancouver School Board. As reported in the June 16‑30 issue of PV, at stake was a set of specific measures to make schools safer for trans* students. The "Proposed Policy Revision on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identities" had become the target of a group of homophobic Christian fundamentalists, looking for a "wedge" issue to attack the Board on allegedly "pro‑family" grounds.

            The policy update addresses serious harassment problems faced by a growing number of students who identify as trans*, gender creative, or gender non‑conforming. Many such youth face threats or violence for attempting to use washroom facilities which match their own identity. The arbitrary gender division of some school activities has also created problems. Most of these issues have been dealt with in a compassionate and understanding way by teachers and school staff over the past several years, and the policy update was developed by the VSB's Pride Committee to reflect this reality.

            However, a small group of opponents immediately launched a disinformation campaign and a petition. Led by Conservative Party operative Cheryl Chang and two trustees with a track record of homophobic views, the group spread alarmist falsehoods about the policy. Much of the mainstream media initially fell for the group's claim that the policy was "racist" since it allegedly offended the cultural values of the Chinese‑speaking community.

            It was true that opposition was mobilized in some Chinese Christian fundamentalist churches. But some of the most homophobic speakers at VSB hearings were of European origin (including Chang herself). On the other hand, many supporters of the Safer Schools Coalition came from Asian cultural backgrounds, including several high school students and recent grads. Not a single student, Asian or non‑Asian, spoke against the policy.

            In the end, over 100 presenters took part in the VSB hearings, making it the most comprehensive policy consultation in many years. Those in favour of the update included representatives of Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, the Vancouver high school student union, the UBC Faculty of Education, and many others. Hardly a single organization opposed the update, other than a few front groups hastily formed by opponents.

            After a flurry of media coverage, Chang's group was increasingly seen as hostile to the complex problems faced by students who do not fit the "binary" norm. By the end of the hearings, it was apparent that they did not represent any "silent majority," just a very angry group of fundamentalists.

            The final straw came on June 13, when the two Non‑Partisan Association trustees opposed to the policy, Ken Denike and Sophia Woo, held a bizarre news conference to claim that unnamed real estate agents had warned them about the negative impact of the policy update. Within hours, they had been drummed out of the NPA's caucus of elected officials, and denied any possibility of a nomination in this fall's election. This will likely end Denike's three decade career on the Board, except for the 2002‑2005 term when he lost to a COPE landslide. First elected in 2011, Woo has no chance of keeping her position as a single‑issue independent candidate. NPA trustee Fraser Ballantyne endorsed the policy and kept his party's backing, but the episode has damaged the pro‑business NPA's campaign.

            The policy was adopted by a 7‑2 vote on June 16, to wild applause from a room full of Safer Schools Coalition supporters, and angry booing from a handful of opponents. Each of the seven in favour spoke about the crucial importance of the updated policy, turning the Board meeting into a celebration of human rights.

            As Coalition supporters said afterwards, the struggle now will turn to implementation of the new policy. The renewed harassment of some trans* students during the extended public debate shows that much work lies ahead in Vancouver schools. This will be difficult, because the deep crisis of provincial underfunding makes it increasingly problematic for school boards to maintain non‑classroom staff positions.

            The Safer Schools Coalition is now considering its next steps. One priority may be to help defeat candidates backed by anti-equality forces. Another may be to pressure the province to mandate all school districts to go beyond the "anti‑bullying" policies which the Premier touts, and implement programs to promote genuine inclusivity of all students.

            For more information, visit www.bcsaferschools.com.

(The above  article is from the July 1-31, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)