B.C. schools told to include sex orientation and gender ID in anti-bully plans
VANCOUVER — British Columbia will soon require all schools to include specific protections for gay, lesbian and transgender students in their anti-bullying policies, the province announced Thursday in a move advocates applauded but called long overdue.
Public school districts and private schools will have until the end of the year to update their policies to include explicit references to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, Education Minister Mike Bernier said at an emotional news conference.
“We want to ensure that every child is recognized, every child has a safe environment regardless of who they are and who they hope to be,” he said. “I look at this and I wish we had these policies when my daughter was in school.”
Bernier became choked up while speaking about his daughter, who he said is now in her mid-20s but came out as gay when she was 19.