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(Surrey, British Columbia The Surrey, B.C.,
school board has settled with two lesbian mothers who complained about anti-gay
rhetoric from speakers at two public meetings.
The board said in a statement it has changed its
policies to protect against harassment and discrimination at future meetings
within the Surrey public education system.
Kim Forster and Carol Pegura filed a
discrimination complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal after the meetings,
which discussed the use of kindergarten books depicting same-sex families.
Forster said Friday the board's position ``will
ensure that meetings in future would be tolerant and respectful of diversity,
particularly of sexual orientation.''
The mother of two said she was also pleased that
the board endorsed an Education Ministry review ``to ensure that there is
inclusiveness and respect within the curriculum and program delivery.''
Last May, the government struck a deal with gay
activists Peter and Murray Corren to make course content more positive toward
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered issues. (More)
The women asked for $5,500 apiece in damages
after telling the tribunal during a hearing in 2004 that they were shaken by the
insults from other parents.
Forster said she could not disclose whether any
compensation was paid but she was more concerned about protection against
discrimination.
She told the tribunal that she ``was fearful for
probably six months after the meeting at the level of hate that we were exposed
to.''
Forster said the school board allowed the public
to get carried away.
``If people had stood up and made those type of
comments regarding race, that we were exposed to regarding sexual orientation,
it just wouldn't have been allowed.''
©365Gay.com 2006
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