Mississauga Catholic School Bans Gay Straight Alliance

St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School becomes the second Ontario school in recent months to prohibit gay student groups.

When 16-year-old Leanne Iskander approached her principal about forming a gay straight alliance (GSA) she was flatly refused, and told to instead use existing support structures like the school’s chaplain and social worker. Earlier this year, the chairwoman of the Catholic District School Board in nearby Halton caused controversy by comparing GSAs to Nazi student groups. Catholic schools’ position on GSAs appears to contradict the Ontario Ministry of Education’s new equity policy, which specifically allows for GSAs to be formed. Iskander isn’t going away without a fight, however. She’s launched a Facebook group called the St. Joes Gay Straight Alliance and said she’ll take her case to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.