The Toronto Catholic District School Board has rejected a call from two trustees to ban gay-straight alliances in schools — which Ontario now says schools must allow.

Trustees voted 7 to 4 against a motion Thursday by trustee Garry Tanuan calling on the board to defy Ontario’s year-old Accepting Schools Act that says boards must let students set up gay-straight alliances (GSAs) if they wish. Tanuan’s motion, seconded by trustee John Del Grande, said gay-straight alliances “promote a positive view of homosexual activity, which undermines Catholic teaching on chastity and marriage.”

However, students from two new gay-straight alliances in Catholic high schools argued they are having a “positive impact” on school climate and leading to fewer homophobic slurs.

“Gay-straight alliances and Catholicism are not mutually exclusive; they go hand in hand … and provide a safe space for those who need support,” said student Jercy David from the gay-straight alliance at Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School. “Our discussions are about anti-bullying and inclusive language,” and does not conflict with Catholic schools’ promotion of chastity, argued fellow student Erin Edghill.

Students from the gay-straight alliance club of Francis Liberman Catholic High School — which is called Bridges — noted they start each club meeting with a prayer and believe the Catholic faith extends to accepting those of different sexual identities.

However, parent Iola Fortino argued against allowing gay-straight alliances, calling them “an encouragement of the gay lifestyle. This is about corrupting our youth.”

There were two hours of emotional presentations by parents, teachers and students on both sides of the issue before trustees began to debate the motion.

Tanuan suggested anti-bullying clubs should follow the guidelines set out last year by Catholic trustees, parents and bishops that such groups be called “Respecting Differences” clubs and not include political activism or personal counselling or discussion of gender identity or sexual attraction.

Tanuan also claimed the Accepting Schools Act steps on Catholic boards’ constitutional right to provide teaching that follows Catholic values.

“Let’s be clear; some will say we’re (recommending) not following the law of the land, but Bill 13 is not the law of the land. The Constitution is the law of the land and it trumps all provincial laws.”

Trustee Sal Piccininni said Catholic education must change with the times, and that he was always taught that “Jesus accepts everybody.” He said he was proud of the students who defended GSAs at the meeting.

Noa Mendelsohn Aviv is the Equality Program Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. She told trustees “the people who attend Catholic schools in Ontario have a right to freedom of association, to form clubs and choose a name that they wish, and to be free from discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

“It is well-known the rate of bullying of LGBTQ students is high and the rate of suicide among LGBTQ students is terribly high.”