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Pride, In Their Own Words: Leanne Iskander

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Leanne Iskander has blossomed in her role as activist. Photo by Michael Erickson.

Dyke March

Start: Church and Hayden streets

Saturday July 2, 2 p.m.

Pride Parade

Start: Church and Bloor streets

Sunday July 3, 2 p.m.

I never expected the GSA issue to be so well-known. To be honest, I didn’t really expect anyone to care about the situation at our school. In our school, it was just myself and a couple friends who were talking and thought that it would be pretty cool to have an LGBT club or group at our school. We didn’t know what GSAs were—we found that out when we Googled it—and then we decided to propose one.
I think the most surprising thing I’ve learned from the experience was that even a system as strong as the Catholic school system will eventually bend to meet the needs of the students if there’s enough pressure. The bishops’ decision to allow LGBT-specific anti-bullying groups was a huge step that I really wasn’t expecting. I think it has encouraged me to keep fighting for a GSA. I’m pretty optimistic that we will eventually get there.

If I could do it over, I would try to find some way to include the students who wanted to actively be part of the movement, but who couldn’t because they weren’t out or because their parents aren’t accepting. It bothers me that they could never attend all the events with us, and that they could never personally meet all the amazing people who are so supportive. Really, the GSA is for those students, because they need the support most. I think they should have an opportunity to fight for it.
The support from the community has been amazing and so much more than I would have ever expected. The attention this issue has gotten from the public and from the media has really given us a venue for our voices to be heard. Stonewall was definitely my favourite event this year. It really meant a lot to me to see so many people carrying signs saying things in support of our GSA. It’s so touching to see that although the ban on GSAs doesn’t affect these people directly, they care anyway.
I imagine being co–grand marshal and honoured dyke will be an incredible experience. I’m pretty baffled as to how I got nominated, since I’ve only been an activist for about four months and there are so many other people who have been doing things for the community for decades. Nonetheless I am extremely grateful, and I think having those roles will bring even more attention to our cause. We need to bring all the attention we can get to the issue in order to build our coalition of students and lobby the provincial government to support GSAs in every school.
I’ve learned a lot and met so many amazing people through my experience trying to get a GSA. It has brought me closer to all the other queer students at my school. The experience has taught me to stand up for myself and my rights.

Comments

  • r y

    Leanne, first off: Congratulations! You're one in a million. I admire you so much.

    But don't speak of this issue in the past tense! This is just getting started! There are still ZERO GSAs in ANY of Ontario's Catholics schools! And too few people know that if the matter went to the Supreme Court today, the homophobic and publicly funded Catholic school system would win. Sad, but true. The job of the Supreme Court is to uphold/interpret the Constitution, and as of 2011, the Catholic Church in Ontario (but nowhere else in Canada–except Alberta) has the right to publicly funded, discriminatory schools! (This was grandfathered into the BNA Act of 1867 from some kind of backroom deal made in the 1840s.) This won't end until the Constitution is amended. Good news, though: Quebec did it 10 years ago, and so did Newfoundland, so it's far from impossible. All it takes is political will. Right now there is exactly ZERO political will in Ontario, though. No political party, no leader, no MPP is prepared to say that the Catholic system must either give up its policy of homophobia, or give up its public funding. (All politicians are afraid of losing “the Catholic vote”, but Catholics have never voted as a bloc–and they certainly aren't ALL homophobes.) But the day will come, as more and more people learn about this publicly funded, institutionalized, province wide problem of religious hatreds trumping basic human rights.

  • Dr Mike Pilon

    Hi Leander, we had a recent suicide in Ottawa due t homophobic bullying. I have tried to get the idea of having percakeepers againdt bullying in schools. Not sure if it will fly but it is far better to have peers intervene non-violently than to had talk and more talk. On facebook check out ,in search FIGHT SCHOOL BULLYING” My dad passed away at 91, at 90 there was a piece on gay marriage on TV. I asked him what he thought. He was a real catholic not the frnt row..look at me type. He replied. “Theyw ere all over London when i was ther during the war, they enver hurt anyone” I was so proud. The homophobic types talk of life style. Kinbd of like choosing to have blue eyes or be tall and muscular. keep up the fight an chc out