'Pick on someone your own size': Rick Mercer calls out Jason Kenney in GSA rant as Bill 24 passes

It's been a hot topic in Alberta for years, but comedian Rick Mercer brought the ongoing debate about gay-straight alliances in schools to a national audience this week in his latest rant.

He said the United Conservative Party's opposition to Bill 24legislation that would make it illegal for publicly-funded schools to inform parents if their childrenjoin gay-straight alliances could be dangerous for teens unsure of their sexuality.

The bill passed third and final reading in the Alberta Legislature on Wednesday.

• Rick Mercer calls for role models for gay teens
• Bill to shield LGBTQ students from early outing, passes in legislature

"This is all about outing young people, and it is serious," said Mercer, who has ranted in the past about a lack of support for gayteens facing bullying in schools countrywide.

In this week's rant for the Mercer Report, he looked back at his childhood.

"When I was a teenager, I didn't know a single gay dude," he said. "As far as I was concerned, I was the only gay dude in 100 miles in every direction."

Mercer said that's a "very difficult" situation for a young person, and there was no option to join a GSA club.

"Thank God we had the drama club, which basically was the same thing," he joked.

UCP Leader Jason Kenney saidhis MLAs wouldoppose Bill 24.He said hewantsto keep the status quo thatgives teachers and principals some latitude to talk to parents if necessary.

"Teachers, not politicians, should decide when it makes sense to engage parents," he said last week. "The unique circumstances of each child should be the key factor, not the blunt instrument of law."

Kenneyonce opposed same-sex marriage

Mercersaidthe former MPmay have been surprised Alberta has had GSA clubs for years after his return to the province, butparents would never be notified if they joined the school newspaper or improv club.

He also pointed to the fact that Kenney made a name for himself opposing same-sexmarriages while in Ottawa.

"We're talking about the olden days way back in 2005," he ranted. "And for a fella like Jason the epitomeofold-school masculinity the notionof two fellas getting married was enough to give him the vapours. And lesbians, that's the stuff ofJason'snightmares."

Mercer said anyone with the potential to become Alberta's next premier should not be crusading against a student's choice about when they come out to their parents.

"Jason stop it. Stick to playground rules. Pick on someone your own size."

A request for commentfrom Jason Kenney's office about Mercer's latest rant referredCBCNews to a statement made Nov. 7.

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