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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 17, 2013 | 4 Teachers' union takes aim at Internet abuse by Dominik Kurek Oakville Beaver Staff Local elementary teachers are joining their counterparts across the province in supporting the International Day Against Homophobia today (Friday, May 17). The support goes beyond the classroom; it extends to the Internet as well. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) says it's time to address the homophobic and transphobic comments that appear on the Internet on a daily basis. The teachers' organization has a culture of acceptance, said ETFO Halton president Marg Macfarlane. "We want every child to feel welcome and comfortable when they're attending school and no child should be made to feel unwelcome or left out." According to ETFO, thousands of homophobic comments are reported daily at www.nohomophobes.com, a website set up by the University of Alberta's Faculty of Education. The website supports research, policy development and education focused on sexual and gender minorities. "While teachers are working to create safe, welcoming environments in the classroom, the next frontier for preventing homophobia and transphobia is the Internet and social media," said ETFO president Sam Hammond, in a news release. "Ontario has laws protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youths and adults from harassment and discrimination, and those laws must extend to the Internet." Just as homophobic behaviour is not acceptable in classrooms, ETFO says, students need to realize such activity is equally unwelcome on We want every child to feel welcome and comfortable when they're attending school and no child should be made to feel unwelcome or left out. ETFO Halton president Marg Macfarlane the Internet. "Cyberbullying and harassment of all forms are hurtful and abusive no matter where they are expressed," Hammond continues in the release. The ETFO has provided tips for confront- ing such behaviour on the Internet. The tips come from Montreal organization Fondation Émergence, which started the International Day Against Homophobia. They include: · Reporting unwanted content to website administrators including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube · Reporting homophobic or transphobic content to website hosts · Encouraging others to do the same when such content appears ETFO represents 76,000 elementary public school teachers and educational professionals in the province. For the past decade, the teachers' union has promoted a Positive Space Campaign and educational resources about LGBT topics for teachers. For information on Fondation Émergence, visit www.homophobiaday.org. The Regional Municipality of Halton Please contact us, as soon as possible, if you have any accessibility needs at Halton Region events or meetings. Notice of Filing of Addendum to the 2008 South Halton Water and Wastewater Master Plan 675 mm Wastewater Main on Easement to North Oakville Pumping Station Town of Oakville, Ward 5, PR-2631B pumping station has been realigned. 19, 2013. Halton Region The Ministry of the Environment 170513