Ontario's Catholic School trustees are vowing to fight a move by the Liberal government allowing students to name anti-homophobia clubs ``gay-straight alliances.''

The Catholic School Trustees Association calls the word gay ``a distraction'' and says anti-bullying legislation is supposed to protect all students, not just those bullied because of their sexual orientation.

The Liberals first said that while Catholic schools must allow the clubs, they would not have to let students call them gay-straight alliances.

Education Minister Laurel Broten says she announced an amendment changing that after hearing from students who don't want her or principals and trustees dictating the names of their clubs.

Broten denies Conservative allegations the Liberals are picking a fight with the Catholic school system, which gets about 33 per cent of Ontario's $24 billion education budget.

The Tories will try to block the amendment that would force Catholic schools to allow gay-straight alliances by that name.

The New Democrats say the Liberals have finally got it right by admitting you can't solve a problem like homophobia if you're afraid to use the word ``gay.''

 (The Canadian Press)