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EDMONTON – In a stunning about-face, the Progressive Conservative government Tuesday passed a new law making the approval of gay-straight alliances mandatory in Alberta schools, a move celebrated as a leap forward for human rights in the province.

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Bill 10’s formal name is: An Act to Amend the Alberta Bill of Rights to Protect Our Children. Here are the key components:

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If students want a gay-straight alliance in their schools, they will get one. Neither the principal nor the board can stop them.

They can meet on school property — eliminating previous concerns about segregation — and can name the group whatever they want.

Under the Alberta Bill of Rights, Albertans are now protected from discrimination based on orientation, sex, gender identity and gender expression

Parents have the right to “make informed decisions respecting the education of their children,” but no longer have the right to pull students from classroom discussions about sexual orientation.

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