Gay-straight alliance motion defeated in Alberta Legislature

A motion to mandate that Alberta schools support the creation of student-led gay-straight clubs was defeated in the legislature on Monday night.

The motion put forward by Calgary Liberal MLA Kent Hehr would have made gay-straight alliances mandatory in schools where students have requested one.

The alliances are student-run organizations where LGBT and straight students work together to combat homophobia.

In my view it's very important to make things better for kids today. Gay-straight alliances are proven to do that, reduce bullying not only for those students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and the like, but also reduces bullying in the school.

Hehr said he'll continue to fight to support the alliances in Alberta schools.

The motion had the support of the Liberal and NDP caucuses along with some Progressive Conservative MLAs.

But most Tories and the Wildrose MLAs opposed it, defeating it by a vote of 31 to 19.