December 23, 2017
Children in Quebec Schools to Learn About Same-Sex Relationships in 2018
Ryan Lynch READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Quebec will soon teach kids about same-sex relationships and sex education.
The program went through a two-year trial at 200 schools before being approved, according to PinkNews. With the successful trial period, the program will expand to 3,000 schools by Sept. 2018.
"I know it's not an easy subject, I know these are sensitive questions, but we now have a societal response to a societal issue, and this is what we're going to do," Quebec Education Minister S�bastien Proulx said.
The curriculum will start by teaching kids about different family types at age five. Children will later learn about sexism and homophobia at 12 and consent at 13, according to PinkNews.
Not every parent is thrilled with the decision to change the curriculum, with some saying the children are too young to learn about the subject.
"This has nothing to do with religion," mother Donatella Garofalo said to the Western Star. "This has to do with age-appropriate material."
Proulx said that five hours a year will be devoted to each child to teach sexual education. He hopes the education will help lower the amount of sexual assaults in the province.
According to Global News, the law changes are part of a $25 million investment over three years by the province to prevent sexual violence.
