Diversity policy needs update, says Manitoba LGBTQ advocate Evan Wiens

The young man behind the first gay-straight alliancein Steinbach, Man.is speaking out against the Hanover School Division's diversity policies.

Three years ago Evan Wiens fought to get a gay-straight alliancein his school. Now he is backing the efforts of a Steinbach-area mom who is fighting for the inclusion of LGBTQ issues in the classroom.

• Steinbach student gets gay-straight alliance victory
• Steinbach-area mom shocked that school division prohibits conversations around sexual orientation

"Growing up in Steinbach and having gone through what I went through there, anyone standing up for LGBT issues in the town is really important to me," said Wiens.

The Hanover School Division's current policy prevents middle school teachers from talking about sexual orientation in the classroom, and that includes materials and conversations around families with same-sex parents.

• Hanover School Division stands behind policy prohibiting LGBTQ issues in classroom

Michelle McHale learned of the policy after she approached the school about her child being bullied for having two moms. She wanted to know if course materials reflected diversity within families that would include same-sex parents, something Wiens says would have helped him in school.

"It would have made me feel a lot less scared to be at school. I remember Grade 8,especially when you start going through puberty and I started figuring out my sexual orientation. At that time it was really scary to be at school because there's nothing being taught in the classrooms about inclusiveness in that respect," said Wiens.

Backlash for anti-bullying bill

Wienssaid he received backlash for his efforts to start a gay-straight alliancein his Steinbach high school, but saysit was outweighed by positive support from the community. He recalls the kindness of a pastor and says religious leaders in the community play an important role in making the community more accepting of LGBTQ people.

"I know there are a few churches in Steinbach that do support gay rights and do support same-sex marriage within their churches so I think for those people to come forward to start voicing their concerns and what not, I think that can really help push the school division," said Wiens.

Both Wiens and McHale have received private support from church pastors for their efforts, but others in the community have stood against them publicly.

During the debate around Bill 18, Southland Church pastor, Ray Duerksen, told parishioners that God would judge those who didn't oppose the anti-bullying bill.

• Anti-bullying bill like 'persecution' in Steinbach

Three years after that debate there is still resistance to change.

"I think in religion in general there tends to be a defensiveness when things start to change, and sometimes it's very difficult for people to embrace that change," said Rev. George Feenstra of Steinbach United Church.

Feenstra says the church plays a spiritual role and should avoid getting directly involved with political action. Instead he encourages his parishioners to practice acceptance and inclusivenessin their daily lives.

"What seems to be happening on the other side of the equation is a defensiveness. What they feel is that their faith is being attacked by the inclusion of these persons. And that's an interesting point of view because years ago there were people in the church resistant to the idea that women were full human beings," said Feenstra.

Changing attitudes

Feenstra is part of a group in Steinbach called Neighbours for Community. The group includes pastors from two Mennonite churches in Steinbach and several prominent community members. Last fall the group sold 350 tickets to its production of Listening for Grace, a play about a father coming to terms with his son being gay.

"I think that the tide is shifting," said Feenstra.

Wiens said the fight for Bill 18 was part of a positive change in the community.

"It definitely changed the way the community talks about gay rights, I think. It made a lot of people uncomfortable but I think for the right reasons. If you're forever trying to ignore an important issue or ignore certain people that are living and exist in the community, you're not doing yourself any good by not opening your mind up to hearing about these people."