opinion & features

When teacher Ray Desautels goes to a school function with his partner he knows the gay couple won’t face a hostile reaction. “I have always been able to (attend functions),” he says of the accepting environment in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division in west Winnipeg. “I have found St. James-Assiniboia to be supportive (though it) was not always that way.”  That acceptance extends to allowing gay and lesbian teachers to display photos of their significant others in the classroom, he says. Sadly, acceptance isn’t universal, Desautels points out. It’s common “in most Winnipeg schools [but] in rural areas not so much,” he says.

For many years, queer educators in Manitoba, and indeed all over the world, were discouraged from divulging their sexuality to students. Many parents would have been outraged if their children had come home and informed them one of their teachers was gay. Outraged parents are any school board’s worst nightmare, so many school boards discouraged queer educators from coming out in the classroom.

But in a changing political landscape, one that continues to offer more and more legal protections for LGBT individuals, too many teachers still don’t receive fair treatment if they want to come out in the classroom. That is especially true in schools in communities outside Winnipeg. Gay teachers stay in the closet out of fear of reprisals from parents and school officials. That means students lack positive role models and don’t feel safe coming out, says a student at a high school in Thompson in northern Manitoba.

“There are a few teachers here everyone is pretty sure are gay, but they never talk about it,” says the student, who requested anonymity. When asked if he would feel comfortable coming out if there were openly gay teachers he could go to for support, he says: “I don’t know, but it would have been nice to know that you’re not alone, at least.”

A  non-GLBT teacher in the Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine spoke to Outwords on condition of anonymity describes the difficult situation for gay and lesbian teachers in her division. “I have pictures of my husband in my classroom and all of my students know him. He even accompanied me on a school trip as a chaperone along with my class,” she says. “There is no way that my school division would allow me to bring my spouse if I were a lesbian.”   

The division isn’t affiliated with any one religion, but the teacher believes the strong Catholic influence, not only among parents but also among staff and school board, creates a negative environment for gays and lesbians.  The overriding fear seems to be that queer educators can’t come out to their students because it would create an upheaval - so their sexuality is better left undisclosed, she says.

Not too long ago, while still pursuing her education degree, the young woman was told that all teachers, regardless of their sexuality, should not disclose information about their sexual preference or spouses to their students.  And yet there is a distinct double-standard, she says. When she began teaching, she was wary at first about bringing photos of her husband to school. But after teaching for awhile she realized she could safely bring her home life into the classroom because she is not a lesbian.

Paul Olsen, president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, says school boards and educators are correct to be concerned about the views of the parents. “We have the most important thing in the world in our care, their children,” he said. But while acknowledging that parents are definitely a part of the educational process, Olsen says teachers also have the right to fight to come out in the classroom. Manitoba educators have been fighting this battle for years, he says.

As far back as 1995, Gale M’Lot, a veteran teacher in the Assiniboine South School Division (which no longer exists), was told by the assistant superintendant not to divulge her sexuality to her students. “M’Lot’s case went through various appeals and courts and the decisions were, at that time, relatively split,” Olson says. “But since then, things have been changing.” Some school boards have introduced anti-homophobia training and policies. Most of the focus, however, seems to be on protecting LGBT students from discrimination, and Olsen noted that not all of the protection offered to students necessarily translates into greater rights for teacher in many school divisions.

In theory, Manitoba human rights codes do offer protection to teachers who wish to come out in the classroom, Olsen says. The legislation protects teachers from being held to different standards than other teachers. Essentially, if one teacher is allowed to bring their spouse to school and another teacher is prohibited, then the human rights legislation may be applicable. But it takes a person with a lot of courage to stand up and try to access this protection if and when it is ever needed, and not everyone is willing to put themselves out there in such a fashion, Olsen says.

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is very aware of the challenges faced by some queer educators in Manitoba and continues to work on the issue. “We do provide support to any teachers who decide to pursue any case,” Olsen says, “and we continue to provide anti-homophobia training in schools.”

Teacher Action Cohorts (TACs), who are volunteer members of the Manitoba Teacher’s Society and trained facilitators, are available at no cost to perform training to school boards and in schools. The anti-homophobia training provided by TACs includes a full-day workshop in which participants explore homophobia, harassment and bullying and their effects on the work environment within schools.

In addition, the teacher’s society has been working, and continues to work, with EGALE on surveys and projects regarding issues of homophobia in Manitoba Schools. The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is also proud to carry its banner in the Winnipeg Pride parade each year, showing support for the many queer educators they represent and for whom they continue to work diligently to ensure fair treatment.

Despite the best efforts of organizations like the Manitoba Teachers’ Society and individuals like Gale M’lot, there is still work to be done. Not all queer educators find it easy to be open about their partners, their lives and their sexuality in the classrooms. GLBT students tend to overwhelmingly say that knowing their teacher is gay or lesbian would help them in dealing with the challenges they face. Having positive role models is an important part of establishing one’s identity.

Where gay and lesbian teachers are fortunate enough to be able to speak openly about their lives with their students, queer students benefit. It creates a safer environment for them to be themselves. Just as importantly, it helps non-GLBT students and teachers understand the range of sexual diversity in our society. When we normalize sexual diversity, we reduce homophobia. That is a huge step forward.

–  Jason Vanrooy is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer.