Complicit

There's been no lack of well-deserved criticism of Ted Morton's efforts to legitimize hate speech related to gay marriage. But let's not let the rest of Alberta's Cons off the hook for their willingness to indulge Morton's hatred:

(Morton's) bill also would allow teachers to opt out of teaching same-sex marriage and students to opt out of having to learn about it.

But after the Tory caucus recommended changes, it is expected to be amended to focus solely on the opt-out for students.

Kris Wells, who spoke at the protest and works in educational policy studies at the University of Alberta, said the provincial curriculum as it stands doesn't address gay marriage anyway.

“This will do nothing more than create a widespread moral panic in which gay and lesbian issues are seen as a moral contagion,” he said.

Mr. Klein has endorsed the bill, saying it would simply enshrine government policy and assist those who wish to follow their conscience.

Of course, Morton's initial bill was even worse than the expected change. But Alberta's governing party deserves its share of blame for working with Morton and granting its apparent approval to a bill which can at best be described as pointless (given its focus on attacking a nonexistent "problem"), and at worst as deliberate bigotry in treating gay and lesbian issues differently from every other topic which could possibly surface in Alberta schools.