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'THE TRUSTEES HURT THOSE STUDENTS'

YCDSB TRUSTEES VOTE DOWN MOTION TO RAISE PROGRESS PRIDE FLAG AT CATHOLIC EDUCATION CENTRE IN AURORA

LAURA BROADLEY lbroadley@yrmg.com

The colours of progress Pride flag won't be seen outside the administration building of the York Catholic District School Board this June after trustees voted down a motion to raise the 2SLGBTQ+ symbol at its May 29 meeting.

As a result, Pflag York Region is urging administration at Catholic schools across the region raise the progress Pride flag alongside the Canadian flag in an act of defiance.

"As the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protected the trustees (at the meeting) with their perspectives, it also protects acts of protest and freedom of thought," Tristan Coolman, president of Pflag York Region, said in a statement.

Four trustees, Elizabeth Crowe, Jennifer Wigston, Carol Cotton and Angela Grella, voting in favour of the motion was not enough for the rainbow flag to be unfurled.

Chair Frank Alexander, vice-chair Maria Iafrate, Theresa Mcnicol, Joseph Dimeo, Angela Saggese and Michaela Barbieri voted against raising the flag.

"Those trustees had said they'd done some learning, they said that they had prayed about it, had listened and read those letters, but it was evident that something just didn't get through and permeate into action," Coolman said.

For Coolman, the decision to designate YCDSB as unsafe for the 2SLGBTQ+ community was easy.

As a result, Pflag York Region has recommended 2SLGBTQ+ students, their parents and caregivers and any 2SLGBTQ+ community member seeking employment with the board consider that their identities may not be affirmed, which could impact their physical and mental health and put their safety at risk.

YCDSB students Isio Emakpor and Patrick Mikkelsen started a petition and asked the board to raise the flag in a delegation at the April 25 meeting.

"Patrick and Isio should know the hurt that they felt was exacted on them by trustees who are supposed to have their best interests in mind. The trustees hurt those students, the trustees made the students cry, the trustees made them feel unsafe," Coolman said.

The Flag and Symbols subcommittee of the board's Gender, Sexuality and Catholic Education committee recommended the flag be raised outside the administration building, but made no mention of schools.

"It wasn't enough in the first place; the flags should've been flying at all the schools," said Paolo De Buono, an outspoken ally and advocate for the 2SLGBTQ+ community in the YCDSB and a teacher at a different Catholic board. "It's so sad something so simple couldn't be passed. I'm concerned because it shows to me the majority of the trustees don't get it. They don't understand the impact of flying the flag."

For Alexander, the flying of the progress Pride flag isn't in line with his Catholic faith.

Not raising the flag is a message to the community that "our cross and our faith is primary, and ... asks the question, 'What's

different about York Catholic?' What's different about us is we stand for our faith, we stand for Christ, and so when the question is asked, that will be the unifying figure," Alexander said in response to a reporter's question about why YCDSB doesn't fly the flag but other Catholic boards do.

Alexander said he doesn't believe the board is going against the Ministry of Education, but in a memo sent to school boards across the province on May 30, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said he expects boards to "redouble their efforts to protect (2SLGBTQ+) students and ensure their inclusion within Ontario schools."

"It is incumbent on all

school boards to ensure all students — most especially 2SLGBTQ+ students — feel supported, reflected in their schools, and welcomed within our communities," Lecce said.

Lecce said celebrating Pride in a "constructive, positive and meaningful way" is a way for 2SLGBTQ+ students to feel they are supported at school.

"We firmly believe that all funded schools must be safe spaces for all children, regardless of race, heritage, faith, sexuality and gender. My message to children in our schools, particularly 2SLGBTQ+ students, is that Ontario's government sees them, values them and we are proud to stand with them."

EDUCATION

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2023-06-08T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-08T07:00:00.0000000Z

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