A Winnipeg teen is being honoured with a human rights award for her work opening dialogue on homosexuality in her religious high school.
Coming out as gay teen can be difficult, but Rebekah Enns, 16, says coming out in a religious school is even harder.
To make it easier for her peers, she created a gay-straight alliance at Westgate Mennonite Collegiate.
"People have always have very set ideas about homosexuality and now I am poking at people's ideas and making them think twice," said Enns, who is gay.
The group meets once a month to talk about homosexuality, answer questions and correct misconceptions others may have.
"Ive heard lots of horror stories about people coming out and (being) bullied for it a lot and that's the whole reason why I wanted to start the group, to help educate people, so that bullying wouldn't happen anymore."
She's being recognized for her efforts with the Sybil Shack Human Rights Youth Award.
Enns is the eighth young person to receive the award. But the Manitoba Human Rights Commission says she's the first to be recognized for addressing the issue of homophobia.
"A lot of people in our society don't want to have that conversation, but I think we have to have it and I think we are having it because of young people like Rebekah," said Jerry Woods, chair of the commission.
Enns' guidance counselor Donna Peters-Small, who nominated her for the award, applauds Enns for her courage to speak up about a difficult issue.
"When you think your community may think you're a terrible person, you're not going to speak up and acknowledge that about yourself," said Peters-Small.
Enns says she wants to create a comfort and understanding within her faith-based school, where homosexuality can be a controversial issue.
-- with a report from CTV's Jillian Taylor.
