SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
In the aftermath of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., MLAs used question period recently to ask Education Minister Alfred Moses about what the government is doing to protect those in the LGBTQ community.

Both Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne and Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart expressed their concerns last Monday. They both said they feel more could be done, particularly in the territory's schools, to protect LGBTQ students.

"Adolescence is a tough time when young people face the challenges of maturing, learning who they are as people and dealing in many incidences with adult responsibilities. That's hard enough but for LGBTQ youth it presents even greater challenges," Vanthuyne told the assembly.

"That's why teachers, the front-line workers and the school community need to have real tools to make schools safe for all students."

He pointed to a Canadian survey that shows teachers think schools are a less safe place for LGBTQ students compared to the general school population overall, due to bullying and sexual harassment.

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