In response to the upcoming protest against Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity (SOGI) education B次元官网网址� planned for Monday at the B.C. legislature B次元官网网址� the Greater Victoria TeachersB次元官网网址� Association (GVTA) released a statement of support for SOGI and to affirm public policy of inclusion and safety for LGBTQ students.

B次元官网网址淥ur intent is to go down to show our support to parents and students in our community that are affected by this kind of hateful statement,B次元官网网址� said Carolyn Howe, second vice-president for GVTA. B次元官网网址淎s a union we not only have an obligation to support our own LGBTQ teachers and staff but we are also proud to support them and proud to contribute to a culture of safe and inclusive schools for all students and families.B次元官网网址�

The subject of controversy, , is a set of resources to support the B.C. and Alberta curriculum in teaching students about diversity in age-appropriate ways. It aims to help educators make schools inclusive and safe for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

The Sex Ed Sit Out protest against the teaching of sexuality and sexual orientation in schools, spearheaded by B次元官网网址渁 few moms on social mediaB次元官网网址� according to the eventB次元官网网址檚 website, is planned for April 23 at the legislature in Victoria. The organizerB次元官网网址檚 website says parents will pull their children out of school for the day B次元官网网址渢o say no to graphic, immoral sex educationB次元官网网址�.

They arenB次元官网网址檛 the only ones leaving school that day, as a large contingent of students from local high schools are also planning to walk out in counter-protest to show their support for LGBTQ students. As students may be subjected to hateful or upsetting speech at the protest, GVTA plans to release some teachers to go down as support.

B次元官网网址淲e are a social justice union so we consider social justice work the work of the union. Our reps in schools that are specifically assigned to do this sort of social justice work will be released from the classroom for the day, and GVTA will pay for their Teacher On Call in order for them to participate,B次元官网网址� said Howe. B次元官网网址淲e want to make sure there are some teachers there that can help support those students if they need it.B次元官网网址�

The protest is expected to begin at 11 a.m. on April 23 on the lawn of the B.C. legislature.

_{Oak Bay B次元官网网址 reached out to Sex Ed Sit Out for comment, however at the time of publishing no reply had been received.}