Alberta school trustee apologizes for suggesting gay students act less gay

EDMONTON – The president of the Alberta School Boards Association says she’s disappointed with a trustee who suggested gay students should be less open about their sexual orientation.

Jacquie Hansen says the trustee for the Pembina Hills school division, Dale Schaffrick, has apologized for the comment.

Schaffrick, a farmer near Barrhead, Alta., made the remark earlier this week during a policy debate at the association’s fall meeting.

Some 62 per cent of trustees voted to reject a proposal that called for protecting gay students and staff from discrimination.

The motion came from Edmonton Public Schools, which approved such a policy last year.

Alberta Education Minister Jeff Johnson says in a tweet that he would never ask his child to — quote — “hide who they are.”