Ontario Catholic District School Board Openly Gay Trustee Paul Marai Says No Conflict Exists Between His Faith And Sexuality And That His Presence Does Not Represent A Threat To Board Policies

Concerns that an Oakville Halton Ontario Catholic District School Board trustee, Paul Marai, who is also an gay activist, could compromise the board’s equity policy are unfounded according to Halton Hills Trustee Mark Rowe, who, according to a report by Inside Halton, said late last week that he agreed with HCDSB Chair Alice Ann LeMay “that the equity policy of the board in not threatened in the least by Mr. Marai’s private life. We are all there to work for the good of the students based on the principles of the Roman Catholic Church.” The 21 year old Marai, elected to the board in September, says his lifestyle is not an issue, despite hysteric warnings from two Catholic news agencies that his presence would jeopardise the Board’s equity policy. As of January 1st, 2011, all Ontario school boards must have policies in place that guarantee they provide positive school environments for students of all races, religions, and sexual orientation, those policies outline the protocol of dealing with issues of homophobia, racism, and sexism, as well as other forms of discrimination . And while the Halton Catholic board passed the policy, it included a caveat, a statement saying that “While the Board is committed to equity and inclusion, some Ministry proposed activities such as ‘gay-straight alliances’ or clubs cannot be permitted.” Marai is the co-chair of Out on Bay Street, an organisation that helps gay businesses and acts as a networking resource for gay professionals. Openly gay, he says he is also a practising Catholic, and dismissed claims that his sexual orientation could compromise the board, saying “I can’t believe we’re having this discussion in the 21st Century. I wonder if these people have been living under a rock for the past 20 years. I think a lot of people, a majority of people, in Oakville would say the same thing.” He added that the Equity and Inclusiveness Education policy has been passed by the previous board on November 2nd, and is therefore no longer an issue. “I’ll have to stand behind the policy of the board that was already made,” Marai said. “ If it comes again, for me it’s about talking to the people I represent. What I want to know is what they think about the equity policy, and I would craft an argument based on that, and you have to look at other things like policies of other boards and what’s worked and what hasn’t worked, what’s within the law and what is not within the law.”