Kenney ‘in tough’ over stance on gay-straight alliances, critics say

UCP leadership candidate Jason Kenney’s stand on notifying parents of youths in gay-straight alliances means he’ll continue to be dogged by the issue, say critics.

On Tuesday, Kenney told reporters in Calgary that parents of students in GSAs shouldn’t be automatically notified.

But he said there could be some cases where the decision should rest with principals, teachers or guidance counsellors.

“Highly trained teachers, principals and school counsellors can exercise their best judgment to know when or if it’s appropriate to bring parents in,” he said. “There are circumstances where it’s totally inappropriate for parents to be informed and circumstances where it’s entirely appropriate for them to help their kids when they’re going through a challenging time.”

Politicians, he said, “should not stand between parents and their kids, this is not an issue that should be so hyper-politicized … it should be about the best interests of the children.”

Last March, Kenney told the Postmedia editorial board that unless they’re abusive, parents should be told of their children joining GSAs, which are meant to foster understanding and solidarity among students.

Soon after, he said he wasn’t in favour of outing GSA members and that educators should exercise their judgment based on the “presumption that most parents are loving, caring and seeking only what is best for their children.”

Leaving the fate of student privacy over GSAs to school officials is troubling, said Dr. Kristopher Wells, faculty director for the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies at the University of Alberta.

“Under which circumstances should parents be notified? He thinks it’s still OK to out kids without their permission,” he said.

It only adds to the stress endured by LGBTQ youth, something GSAs are designed to reduce, said Wells, who fears such a stance will empower religious-based schools to discourage the clubs. But he noted such notification isn’t ruled out under the NDP government’s Bill 10, which ensures students’ rights to join or create a GSA.

Last spring, Education Minister David Eggen said he’d be “looking at that very closely” as a provision to include in the legislation.

Wells said Kenney needs to further clarify the school notification stance and his overall position on GSAs.

“Until he answers those questions directly, the issue is not going to go away,” he said.

Highly trained teachers, principals and school counsellors can exercise their best judgment to know when or if it’s appropriate to bring parents in.

On Tuesday, Kenney said he has “no intention of repealing Bill 10.”

Liberal Leader David Khan also said Kenney will continue to be dogged by the GSA issue.

“He’s in tough with that … I’m appalled by his position,” said Khan, who said parental notification, even by educators, could have dire results.

“Kenney is putting vulnerable students at risk of homelessness or worse.”

In responding to recent poll results showing her NDP badly trailing the new UCP, Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman said Albertans know her government, not the opposition, stands for classroom inclusion.

“Rachel Notley has made it clear she stands with LGBTQ youth, she won’t out them to their parents,” she said.

Kenney’s UCP leadership rival Brian Jean said he doesn’t believe parents should be notified of their children’s GSA membership.