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4- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday March 15, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Gay/Straight Alliance groups in four Halton schools Continued from page 3 was so helpful" and helped relieve feelings of anxiety, insecurity and depression. The youth group is just one of the services HOPE offers. The organization received a three-year grant from the Halton Healthy Community Fund to hire a coordinator to establish Gay/Straight Alliance youth groups. The first was launched at Iroquois Ridge High School in Oakville. There are currently four GSAs at Halton schools and another two or three in development. Rather than just a group for gay students, it encourages students and teachers, regardless of sexual orientation, to become involved to create a more accepting environment for all students. Logan said GSAs are important because they advocate acceptance, not just from gay students and teach- ers, but from straight supporters as well. "It's one thing for me to stand up and talk about it, it's another for a heterosexual youth," he said. "When you have these allies speaking about it, it becomes a community issue. That helps immensely. It helps youths struggling with all these issues and dealing with discrimination in the halls." One of HOPE's biggest initiatives, Educating the Educators, was developed with the goal of raising awareness among teachers. While younger generations are becoming more accepting of gay classmates, it is still an older generation that runs the schools. Often they come from a generation where pregnant teens were taken out of school and a classmates' sexuality was just subject of rumour. The youth-developed anti-oppression workshop took 10 students each from Burlington, Oakville and 13-15 from north Halton. Over an eightweek period they created an antihomophobia training program for teachers and administrators-- not for them to implement, but for the teachers to take. Students presented it to every Halton District School Board teacher, principal and trustee. "(Acceptance) really comes down to the individual, which is why it's so important to coaches and teachers to be aware," Logan said. The program teaches people to be conscious that certain comments, though not directed at an individual, can still be insulting. "Kids will say, `That book is so gay,'" said Logan. "It's not even a homosexual reference, but what it's saying is that it's second class. It's being used to put you down." It also aims to increase the understanding and awareness of the causes of homophobia and the importance of intervention when there are inci- dents of harassment or discrimination. Among the other messages the program delivers: ·Don't assume everyone is heterosexual. ·Don't let homophobic remarks go unchallenged. ·Be a role model for others in terms of acceptance and being informed and non-judgmental. ·Treat homophobia as you would racism. Bob Stacey, a phys ed teacher at Nelson High School, said he became more aware of homophobic comments after his son told him he was gay. He believes he has become a better teacher since then. "I try to educate. It's not fair to call someone gay or fag," he said."We wouldn't allow anyone to use any racial terms so why do we allow this?" Wayne Joudrie, director of the Halton District School Board, said HOPE approached the board's diversity committee about implementing Educating the Educators. He said it was a perfect fit in terms of identifying different aspects of being inclusive. The director sat in on one of the training sessions and said it was very well presented. "You listen to these young people and watch the responses, it was really very powerful," Joudrie said. "There was a real sense of engagement and enlightenment -- a sense that maybe we are sensitized to gay bashing." Joudrie said with a board of thousands of students and hundreds of staff, it may be impossible to completely eliminate any bias but, "if you do nothing, you're condoning it. "By raising the issue to a higher level, you're improving the plight of all students and staff." See Group page 5 1500 Sixth Line (Just South of Upper Middle Rd.) 905-844-9209 Liz, Nick & Staff at ART'S FISH & CHIPS wish our customers a Happy & Healthy Easter and remind you that we will be OPEN on Good Friday, 12 Noon to 8pm Come early and avoid the 5 pm rush. J in us for th Join u for the in rt Ligh Ligh Ligh Ligh ig ght ghthouse Restaurant s an nt n infamous E aster Champagne Brunch Buffet Includes: Carvery of Ham & Prime Rib · Scrambled Eggs · Bacon & Sausage Pancakes · Tossed & Caesar Salad · Seafood Salads Smoked Salmon Platters Assortment of Fine World Cheeses Pasta of the Day · Homestyle Potatoes Fresh Garden Vegetables Home Baked Breads · Muffins, Croissants, Danishes French Pastries, Tortes, Cakes, Pies Glass of Chilled Mimosa, Coffee or Tea EASTER BUFFET! Sunday March 23, 2008 f from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Join us at Hampton's Restaurant located in the Quality Hotel & Suites for Easter Brunch Sunday, March 23rd. An elaborate buffet extravaganza with the Easter Bunny to take the kids on an Easter egg hunt and after let them enjoy our activity area where they can color and play. $ 28.95 16.95 for Adults & $21.99 per person Children 12 and under half price Children under 5 eat free We will be offering two seatings for our brunch. The 10:30 A.M. Brunch will be available until 12:30 P.M. A 1:30 P.M. Brunch will be available until 3:30 P.M. Please call 905-847-6667 extension 1102 to book your reservation. The regular breakfast menu will not be served this day. $ for children under 12 yrs. For reservations, please call: 905-827-1315(day time) 905-827-7037 (evening) HARBOUR BANQUET CONFERENCE CENTRE & LIGHTHOUSE RESTAURANT weddings · conferences · social events 2340 Ontario Street, Oakville 0 Ont rio St Ont akvill ak le kville kvill kvil www harbourba uet.ca www.harbourbanquet.ca w.ha bou ourba our ou urb ca Watch for our Mother's Day ad Restaurant & Pub Open for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 754 Bronte Rd. (inside the Quality Hotel) 905-847-1566