Dear Editor,
In response to Deanna Doornboss’s letter, I am sorry to hear you feel picked upon and bullied by the government’s decision that all schools accepting public tax dollars to help run their schools must follow the law in providing a safe space for children who may not follow Christian beliefs.
Just imagine a child, growing into a young adult in your school. This child, no matter how hard they try not to, has feeling of attraction towards a member of the same sex. Now this child lives in a family, community, church and attends a school that believes their feelings are wrong. There is nowhere this child can go to talk about their feelings without being shamed and told their thoughts are bad.
You may want to believe that no child in your community will ever feel this way. You may believe that homosexuality is a life style or a choice, it isn’t. Bill 24 is trying to ensure that any child attending a school receiving money from the government has a safe place to go, especially when they think differently than their parents.
You may feel this is attacking your religious beliefs, it isn’t. You can follow your beliefs at home, in your church and in your community. But if you want government funding for your school it needs to provide a safe place for children that are different, that don’t fit your Christian value of “distinct and complementary roles” for men and women. And if that makes you feel bullied for your beliefs, I will pray for you and your school.
Sincerely,
Vicky Couteret,
Fort Assiniboine, AB
