Reality Check: Jason Kenney and Brian Jean need to pledge to never out gay kids

EDMONTON –Brian Jean and Jason Kenney need to reverse their position and pledge to never out gay kids. It’s time they stood with the NDP caucus and supported legislation to protect children who join GSAs from being outed.

“Jason Kenney and Brian Jean have repeatedly said they’d out students who join a GSA at a school. LGBTQ2S+ youth and their parents have had enough,” said Michael Connolly, MLA Calgary-Hawkwood. “It’s time Jason Kenney and Brian Jean reverse their position and pledge to never out gay kids.”

The UCP leadership candidates need to clarify for Albertans where they stand, especially in light of their new responses to a social conservative lobby group’s questionnaire. When asked by the group “Parents for Choice” if schools should be mandated to inform parents of a child’s participation in any groups including GSAs, the two politicians agreed. Jason Kenney not only agreed with the statement, he said he didn’t believe rules to protect kids are necessary.[1] Kenney has been in favour of outing gay kids since March.[2]

At tonight’s UCP leadership debate, the two candidates must pledge to never out gay kids and pledge their support for new legislation to do just that.

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[1] Parents for Choice UCP candidate survey. September 27 2017. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/parentchoice/pages/322/attachments/original/1506480433/UCP_Leadership_Questionnaire_-_compiled_responses.pdf?1506480433

[2] Calgary Herald. March 28 2017. http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/kenney-parents-should-be-told-if-child-joins-gay-straight-alliance