For the past three years, the organisation GRIS Montreal (that’s main objective is to demistify homosexuality and to develop self-esteem among those young people who are questioning their sexuality), has been awarding those high schools and elementary schools in the Quebec area, who have made remarkable efforts in this matter.
This year, GRIS presented the award today, on September 18th, to the “La Rive” high school – most notably for the unique initiative taken by its students and faculty members to demystify homosexuality and bisexuality. Along with the prize, the school also received a $2 000 scholarship from Simple Plan Foundation (that has been a supporter of GRIS for many years), represented at the event by Simple Plan’s lead guitarist Jeff Stinco.
One of the main objectives of Simple Plan Foundation is to support organizations that work with young people who face various problems. According to GRIS “For this reason, the Foundation supports the work of GRIS and acknowledges that dropping-out of school, depression and suicide, are (according to many experts) direct consequences of homophobia in schools.”
“I hope that someday we stop fearing our diversity and embrace it instead. Whether you are gay, black, white, handicapped… We are all the same,” tweeted Jeff Stinco after the event.
Below you can check out six pictures of Jeff, attending GRIS’ presentation at the La Rive high school:
