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4- The Oakville Beaver, Friday March 2, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Safe sexual orientation chat on Spectrum By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Retired teacher Dennis Yeo says a program like the one launched Wednesday by the Halton District School Board would have been invaluable during his career. After 30 years of hiding his sexual status from the school system, the Lorne Skuce Public School teacher came out at his retirement party. Now, the Halton District School Board has a program to support both teachers and students in Yeo's situation. The group is called Spectrum, and its first initiative is a website that provides online, anonymous conferences in a safe environment for staff and students to discuss sexual orientation and gender identity issues. "I would have killed for that website when I was working," Yeo said Wednesday during the program's launch at Iroquois Ridge High School. "I remember even as a student, back then there was absolutely nothing. No support, nothing like this. Just to know that you're not alone would have made such a big difference." Spectrum is a group of Halton District School Board staff and students about 10 members strong ­ including Yeo ­ working to shape safe and supportive school communities for people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. It's driven by the school board's diversity coordinator, Suzanne Muir, who was unable LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER ACROSS THE SPECTRUM: From left, Don Marshall, coordinator of Research at the J.W. Singleton Education Centre, Nicole Maitland, Pinegrove Public School, Chris Breakspear, Iroquois Ridge High School, Dennis Yeo, retired Lorne Skuce Public School teacher, and Beth Parks, Gary Allan High School are all part of the committee for Spectrum Talk and Student Spectrum Talk, chat lines that are accessible only by Halton board students and staff and which offer anonymous on-line conferences that provide staff and students with a safe environment to discuss issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and school. to attend the launch because of a family commitment. Spectrum Talk and Student Spectrum Talk ­ the two online discussion forums ­ are now up and running. Only school board staff and students can enter the website using a username and password, safeguarding the site from outsiders. "It's kind of like a bulletin board," Spectrum member and Iroquois Ridge teacher Chris Breakspear explained. "You can post a message that anybody can read, and given it's an issue that's of a sensitive nature, we allow the person to post something without their name being attached to it. "We've taken many, many steps to ensure they would not accidentally identify them- selves by putting up a posting." And to make sure the comments are all appropriate, Breakspear added, staff members read the postings on a regular basis. So far, so good. "We haven't had to remove anything yet from the site," he said. While the site's launch was Wednesday to make the school community aware of its existence, it has actually been up for a few months, while Spectrum members have been tweaking with it. "It's been kind of encouraging what we've seen so far," said Breakspear. "If one student posts that they have a concern about whatever aspect, another student will post and say, `I've been through a similar experience,' so it's almost a peer helper program. There's a core group that seems to go on the site, so it's been a very positive experience." Grade 10 T.A. Blakelock student John Fairweather has checked out the student chat website and says it's a step in the right direction. "I think this opens up a lot of doors, students feel more comfortable in this setting, and they're able to put issues on the table without being judged," the 16-year-old said. "It's giving them an opportunity to go out and speak their opinion, and not have people judge them for what they prefer. "I think maybe this website should be in all the school boards." The site also contains material like pamphlets you'd find in a doctor's office on sexual orientation and gender identity. See Groups page 5 INNOVATIVE. INTRIGUING. INVITING. Transform your windows with our Luxury To GoTM readymade drapery collection; exclusively designed and ready to hang. 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