Bill 18 supporters rally outside Manitoba legislature

Supporters of Bill 18, the Manitoba government's proposed anti-bullying law, gathered outside the provincial legislature for a rally on Thursday evening.

Upwards of 500 people came to the rally to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and tovoice their support for Bill 18, which would require all schools to accommodate student anti-bullying clubs,including gay-straight alliances, should students want them.

A number of faith-based groups have said Bill 18 infringes on their religious rights, but some education officials and others have said the legislation is an important step in counteracting bullying, including cyberbullying, in Manitoba schools.

"Our society is changing and our laws must keep up," Education Minister Nancy Allan told the crowd.

Madison Westdal, 13, said some classmates at her Christian schoolhave taunted her because she supports Bill 18.

"It's something that I strongly believe in, and I don't believe being in love with someone is wrong, or being who you are is wrong. So that's why I believe that being gay is OK," she said.

Critics of the bill have also argued that it doesn't have enough teeth.

"We think it's flawed legislation and there's better legislation out there," said Reg Helwer, the Progressive Conservative MLA for Brandon West.

The government expects the bill to pass in time for the new academic year to begin in September.

Organizers of Thursday's rally noted several instances of homophobia in recent weeks led them to unofficially dub the month of March as "homophobia month" in the province.

In one case, an openly gay Winnipeg manfound homophobic slurs spray-painted on his house on March 31.

In another instance, the owners of a restaurant in Morris, Man.,decided to shut down the eatery because they were tired of facing homophobic slurs.