School board trustee Valentine Crawford expressed support Friday for a call by two New Democratic Party MLAs to require all schools to teach students about equality for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or questioning (GLBTQ).
"I don't see why not, it's a huge part of Canadian culture, Canadian history," Crawford said when asked if he feels GLBTQ equality should play a bigger part in the curriculum.
"The gay rights movement in Canada should probably start being reflected in what our students are learning in schools."
However, Crawford cautioned it's possible teachers in School District 57 are teaching the subject anyway.
"I think they do touch on it a bit, but it's been a long time since I've been out at a school and it's changed a lot since then," said Crawford, who is president of Prince George Pride, a local association for the GLBTQ community.
Crawford added he does know "gay-straight alliances" - essentially clubs with a focus on social justice - have been established in schools.
"And that's happening in school districts across B.C., even as far as Prince Rupert and Kelowna," he said.
NDP MLAs Spencer Chandra Herbert, who represents Vancouver-West End, and Mable Elmore, who represents Vancouver-Kensington, told the Vancouver Sun the province is teaching students a curriculum that does not include education on GLBTQ equality.
"Just like in the '70s when racism was brought forward as an issue and there was initial opposition, GLBTQ issues now need to be equally addressed in the schools," said Herbert. "I don't think people are purposefully hateful or ignorant, they just don't know enough about it."
A spokesman for the education ministry told the Sun it is not true the province is not educating students about gender orientation.
Social justice and Making Space diversity programs are available to teachers from kindergarten to Grade 12, he said, and modules in health and career education try to increase knowledge and acceptance about gender issues.
Crawford said there is room for improvement on anti-bullying strategies.
"Quite often they don't hit the real issue and quite leave LGB students out and if you're talking about learning, kids need to feel and supported in their schools," Crawford said.
