Protesters rally against gay and lesbian issues course
Last Updated: Monday, August 28, 2006 | 9:29 AM PT
CBC News
More than 800 people rallied in Vancouver over the weekend outside Premier Gordon Campbell's constituency office to protest the introduction of a new high school course dealing with same-sex issues.
The course is the result of a seven-year human rights battle by a Coquitlam gay couple for a more gay-friendly curriculum in B.C.'s public school system.
There also will be a review of classroom materials to make them inclusive for gays and lesbians.
More than 800 people took part in the weekend rally outside Premier Gordon Campbell's Vancouver constituency office.
(CBC)
A number of the parents attending the rally said they're concerned this will make children more likely to choose a gay life.
But Murray Corren, one of the men who won the human rights battle with the province, says that's just misinformation.
"Many years ago, I went through a public education system that was totally heterosexist. There was no information about gay or lesbian people at that time, and having gone through that system for 13 years, it didn't make me straight.
The protesters say they want to have a say about curriculum changes.
(CBC)
"So I don't know how information about gay and lesbian people is going to turn anyone queer."
Rally organizer K. John Cheung told parents they will have no say in the provincial curriculum changes. But Corren says parents, teachers, and the public will have input through an external review process.
