A Vancouver music teacher has been suspended from teaching at a Catholic high school after parents found out that she was a lesbian, according to a news release from the Pride Education Network this week.

Lisa Reimer had taken some time off to celebrate the birth of her first child with her partner. When she returned, she was told that all her music classes had been cancelled and that the remainder of her contract with the school would be spent grading papers from home. The principal noted that while the school administration was confident in Ms. Reimer’s teaching ability, many parents were concerned about her “potential influence” on students.  (All gay music teachers, of course, posses a powerful Pied Piper magic that, if gone unchecked, will lead students directly into the river Gay.)

While Little Flower Academy is a Catholic school, it receives public funding and is thereby subject to Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, protecting staff against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. The school was quick to emphasize that they didn’t actually fire Ms. Reimer, but there are ways to discriminate other than just firing someone. Right?

• Lesbian teacher told to work from home, group says [CBC News]
• B.C. teacher claims school sent her home for being gay [CTV News]

A new poll conducted in Peru has revealed that a substantial majority of Peruvians believe gay teachers to be “dangerous,” posing an immediate threat to children.

The exact wording of the survey was “Do you think it is dangerous for children to have a homosexual professor at school?,” with 61 percent responding “yes,” 31 percent responding “no,” and 8 percent indicating that they weren’t sure.

While homosexuality isn’t illegal in Peru and there’s a good chance there’ll be an openly gay candidate on their next presidential ballot, these results show there’s still quite a bit of progress to be made before gay people become acce—wait, no! Stay back! Aaaarrggaahhh!

Correction: I had previously, incorrectly claimed that the poll was conducted by Angus Reid. It was actually conducted by Ipsos, Apoyo, Opinión y Mercado, a Peruvian polling company. Thanks to Mario from Angus Reid for the correction!

• Gay School Teachers Dangerous for Peruvians [Angus Reid]

Alberta’s strange new law requiring teachers to notify parents before tackling any lessons dealing with sexual orientation has been delayed until next year so that the school boards can prepare formal procedures.

The Alberta Teacher Association as well as several large municipal school boards was against this bill from the start, but the provincial Conservative government has so far been adamant that the law is necessary for parents to be able to pull their children out of classes, preventing them from learning anything about gay issues.

The law was part of a revision to the Human Rights Act, which means that any teachers who violate the new law will see themselves before the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

The whole thing is a bad idea, so sparing an extra year’s worth of children from all this is welcome news. Too bad it’s not delayed indefinitely.

• Alberta parental opt-out to take another year [CBC News]

Ah, Halloween! That time of year when the undead drag their rheumatic limbs through the streets, assorted ghouls knock door to door, and the conservative campaign for a new Alberta premier kicks off…

Ted Morton, incidentally, is taking a shot at premiership. And what do you suppose is one of his top-two campaign promises? Why, a re-RE-introduction of Bill 208, which has now failed to make it through parliament twice! The bill, if passed, would remove all legal consequences for those “acting out on their beliefs” against same-sex marriage. (Restaurant waiter? Don’t like gays? Well, no need to serve ‘em!)

The bill also includes specific clauses that would force teachers to send out “parental warnings” before discussing gay issues, and allow civil marriage commissioners to deny their public services to gays.

Now, I’m not entirely sure why Teddy thinks 208 will survive legislature the third time around, but I gotta give him some anti-gay credit for persistence. And for those of you unsure of what to be for halloween, I’m delighted to announce that a Bill 208 “undead” costume pattern is in the works! In preparation, please put bury some ancient parchment for a week; instructions will follow.

• Morton promises to change the status quo [Pincher Creek Echo]

Oh, goody! The Halifax Regional School Board (yes, the same one that was punished by the Human Rights Commission for assuming their gay teachers were molesting students) will now be sending out a lovely batch of surveys! The surveys, which each teacher will be required to fill out and sign tomorrow, includes the age-old question: “Are you heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian?” You know, because that would shed so much light on how well someone can teach long division…

While the school board was quick to note that they won’t be penalizing teachers for unanswered questions (gee, how nice of them!), the Nova Scotia Teachers Union is unimpressed. President Mary-Lou Donnelly isn’t quite sure what to recommend to union members, claiming that the board soundly rejected her suggestion of making the surveys anonymous.

The board will probably be more subtle next year (“Which of the following sexes would you most like to marry?”), but, in the meantime, I suggest that the current wording leaves only one answer…

Q: Are you heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian?
A: Yes.

• ‘Are you gay?’ school board asks teachers [CBC News]

Ever notice that annoying “Whaaah!” sound coming from the Alberta parliament? No need to be alarmed, kids! It’s just the provincial government throwing another one of its temper tantrums over same-sex marriage.

Ted Morton‘s Bill 208, which passed second reading this week, would make it OK for teachers to not acknowledge the existence of same-sex marriage in Alberta. And for teachers that do wish to acknowledge reality… well, they’d be required to send out parental warnings before speaking a word about the gays. How quaint!

When asked why this craziness was conceived, Morton replied: “[It's] to pre-empt the type of harassment of people who disagree with same-sex marriage.” Yeah, because those people are so discriminated against. Also—wait, did that response have anything to do with parents and teachers?

Of course, Frank Bruseker, president of the Alberta Teacher’s Association, whom this bill would actually affect, is insulted.

Requiring teachers to advise parents prior to making any mention of the fact that marriage in Canada may be between persons of the same sex will effectively gag any emergent discussion of this issue.

What does that communicate to gay and lesbian students, to their families and to the school community? These students are already at greater risk of being bullied, being alienated from school and eventually dropping out. They need all the help and support that the school system can provide.

If I may practice my Alberta lingo, let me say: “Darn Tootin’, Frank!” But now, for my adorable elected Alberta MLAs, whoever wants to play crazy anti-gay make-believe forever, say “Yea.”

• Teachers call on MLAs to reject bill [Alberta Teacher's Association]
• ATA gives Morton’s Bill 208 a failing grade [Cochrane Times]
• Kill Bill 208 [Edmonton Journal]