The International Day Against Homophobia, May 17, 2010, celebrated the launch of a new resource for staff and students created by Egale Canada (Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere). Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale officially launched the new website myGSA.ca / monAGH.ca .

This website provides a wealth of information for youth and educators who are committed to the establishment and continued existence of Gay-Straight Alliances in Canada. Recent Egale research to be released fall 2010 has shown that schools, which have established GSA groups, have “a much higher rate of acceptance and a lower rate of homophobic incidents”.

There is still much work to be done to eliminate homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in Ontario schools. Egale offers information on the 10 basic steps staff needs to consider when starting a Gay-Straight Alliance in any school. The information found in this website will provide our members with solid, research based strategies to assist in the creation of a GSA.

OSSTF/FEESO has developed and provided workshops such as From PAIN to PRIDE - Gender Based Violence and Homophobia, and EQUIP –Engaging Quality Understandings of Inclusive Practice, as well as our soon to be released resource book Creating Spaces: Embedding Equity in Education.

The Provincial Executive applauds these efforts and asks local OSSTF/FEESO leaders to encourage member involvement and support for the establishment of GSAs in their schools and workplaces.

For more information about Gay-Straight Alliances, as well as ideas and materials visit http://mygsa.ca .