The Commission scolaire de Montréal recognizes family diversity

MONTREAL, Nov. 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The LGBT Family Coalition wishes to congratulate the Commission scolaire de Montréal for its recent decision to modify admission forms in order to reflect diversity in families.

On October 23, the CSDM unanimously voted to replace the terms 'father' and 'mother' by the word 'relative' on all of the forms available on its Intranet and Internet sites, as well as all the forms used by CSDM schools where the words 'father' and 'mother' appear.

In doing so, the CSDM meets a major objective of the Québec Government Action Plan against Homophobia 2011-2016, by adapting public services to the specific needs of sexual minorities and by modifying, where necessary, the terminology used in administrative documents to reflect the Act instituting civil unions and establishing new rules of filiation.

In June 2002, more than ten years ago now, the Act instituting civil unions and establishing new rules of filiation was adopted unanimously by the National Assembly, thus granting same-sex couples conjugal and parental rights. The Directeur de l'état civil also modified its forms following the adoption of this Act.

"It is important for our children that their family reality be reflected in the schools at all levels, including on the various forms used by the schools and the letters that are sent home to parents. Children see these documents at the school - that's where they learn how to read them! Their feeling of belonging and pride in their family is strengthened when the reality of their family is recognized. And this change is also important for all children who do not live in traditional families." stated Gary Sutherland, president of the LGBT Family Coalition.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-identified (LGBT) Family Coalition, member of the Conseil québécois LGBT, advocates for the legal and social recognition of LGBT families. This bilingual group of LGBT parents and future parents exchanges information, shares resources and has fun with their children. The Coalition creates new resources that can be used in primary and secondary schools, daycares, doctors' offices, community organizations or social services to sensitize the public about our families and the diversity of our family structures.

SOURCE: Conseil québécois LGBT

Mona Greenbaum: [phone], [email protected]
Gary Sutherland: [phone], [email protected]