Any material on sexual orientation and gender identity also needs government vetting. Alberta school leaders and groups that deliver school sex education presentations are preparing for new rules taking effect this fall that require the government to first vet all information.
The changes stem from a bill passed last year that the government describes as giving parents and guardians more control and information about what students are learning in school. New guides and forms posted last month on the provincial government’s website show that groups that offer presentations to students primarily and explicitly on human sexuality, sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI) must have both their organization and their presentations first vetted and approved by Alberta Education.
Schools must also submit any related resource, such as literature, videos or digital tools, to the government for approval before teachers can use them in classrooms.
Alberta school boards advocate to keep opt-out sexual health education Exempt from the process is any sexual health information, or resource dealing primarily with SOGI, that is destined for a religion class. In a statement last week, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said those classes are exempt because Albertans have a constitutionally protected right to religious education. Advocates for 2SLGBTQ+ people say the province shouldn’t be scrutinizing and gatekeeping information about sexual orientation and gender identity. “It’s textbook discrimination,” said Bennett Jensen, director of legal for Egale, an organization that plans to challenge the legislation in court. “[The bill] sends the message to the population that the government thinks that there’s something wrong with queer and trans people.”. Presenter groups will also need to re-apply for approval every three years. Schools must submit a resource for re-approval every time a new version is released, according to the minister. The minister says the government is screening to ensure resources and presenters align with the curriculum and are age-appropriate.,, Source: cbc.ca/news/
