Kudos to Cam Westhead and the NDP government for their work to protect safe and inclusive schools for our youth. If only we could foster the same sentiments in our society at large. As a parent, and as a citizen, I wholeheartedly support any work being done to ensure that all individuals can have the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that doesn't insist they meet bigoted criteria to belong. It has been my observation that the more vehemently people oppose inclusivity, the more important it becomes to ensure a safe, inclusive environment for those who may not fit a prescribed belief system. We don't need to look back very far in history to see the legacy of bigotry, hate and exclusion. Actually, we don't need to look back to history at all, that legacy is alive and well today. I always hope my children would feel safe coming to me with issues that they confront in their lives, and as a family we could advocate for their needs. However, if there was a time when they didn't, I hope there would be other safe venues for them to seek the support they may need. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child. May it be a village that seeks to support, protect and nurture, not judge and shame. Tara Courte
