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Tracey Lintott, guidance counsellor at Kildonan-East Collegiate who is also involved with the school’s GSA.

High schools in the River East Transcona School Division have taken steps to make students feel safer in the hallways.

Following a meeting near the end of the 2010-11 school year, the division approved plans for the six high schools to develop Gay-Straight Alliances.

The alliances are led by students and teachers, and brings together gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and straight students for support and education.

Tracey Lintott, a guidance counsellor at Kildonan-East Collegiate, said the school was told last spring there was a possibility of the group forming, but student interest spiked when they held a Purple Day last fall.

Students at the school were encouraged to wear purple to express their support for the LGBT community.

"I think the kids got it wearing their purple shirts, there was a positive energy in the building that day," Lintott said.

"Students are standing up against homophobic bullying and harassment, and supporting the LGBT society."

Lintott said the group meets once a week and its attracted up to 25 students some weeks.

"It’s a place to bring everyone together to educate and explain the damaging effects of homophobic behaviour," she said.

"It’s been good, there was a natural connection between our human rights group and the GSA."

Barb Isaak, assistant superintendent with RETSD, said the division decided to approve the GSA plan because of the level of interest in the student population.

 "We had conversations with the schools and knew it was an area students were identifying," Isaak said.

"We were in support of each of our high schools having a GSA."

Isaak said that the division currently has no plans to offer a wider ranging policy similar to the one that was recently implemented in Louis Riel School Division.

The LRSD approved the policy, Respect for Human Diversity: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity late last year.

"In terms of GSAs, we committed to starting at the high school level. We want to make sure those groups have a good foundation before we make other considerations," Issak said.

"We have not had any conversation about a larger policy at this point, but it may come up in the future."

Lintott said Kildonan East’s GSA group is still defining itself, but there are plans to take part in the April 20 day of silence and other events.

"It’s just the acknowledgement that every student deserves a safe environment," Lintott said.

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adrian.alleyne@canstarnews.com