Pflag York Region is calling on the public school board to take action after reports of hate incidents against Pride flags, including the burning of one, during Pride Month.
The LGBTQ2+ support organization said in a news release that two incidents occurred at York Region District School Board schools, including a flag burning and damage to a flag pole flying a Pride flag. The organization said the board has informed it of other anti-queer incidents and hate crimes over the past year.
Pflag York Region president Tristan Coolman and executive director Marie Morton said there are many great individuals at the school board working to respond to incidents, but more policy changes are needed.
“It is now time our trustees consider stronger actions and protections enshrined in board policy to better protect all marginalized communities when celebrating culturally significant events and policy protections for educators in creating intersectional learning spaces across all subjects,” Coolman and Morton said.
Coolman said the organization is not provided the specifics of the hate incidents in terms of location or parties involved. The board did not specify the incidents in a statement but said such matters are referred to York Regional Police.
The board said it is “undertaking steps to ensure that all students and staff members feel safe and welcomed in their learning and working environments.” Board chair Allan Tam and director of education Louise Sirisko further addressed hate incidents in a June 15 statement on the board website.
“Any act of hatred will not be tolerated at our board. This includes acts that vandalize the Pride flag in any way. These incidents cause tremendous hurt and harm and can make our students and staff feel unsafe in school. This is not acceptable,” Tam and Sirisko said in the statement.
Coolman told NewmarketToday there are other areas he would like to see the board step up, however, including releasing more details on incidents so that organizations like his can be more present in affected communities.
“We’re really trying to push to make sure we have a larger presence to support whatever we can,” he said.
Intersectional learning — which involves examining the intersections of various kinds of discrimination — is also an issue, Coolman said. He said they have heard how a parent complaint can seriously hamper the usage of intersectional learning and involve a complicated review process. He said board policy should simplify such response.
“There’s no policy to direct teachers or direct administrators to say, ‘intersectional learning is something that is not just allowed but affirmed,’” Coolman said. “Statements only go so far. They’re not policy.”
Tam and Sirisko said the board is committed to recognizing Pride and investing in professional development on anti-oppression.
“We also need to continue to look for opportunities for our students and staff to see their identities affirmed, reflected and celebrated year-round," they said. "We need to continue to think intentionally about the images and language we use, the texts that we share in the classroom, and how we are showing up for our students."
The Pflag release does not specify the York Catholic District School Board. He said their organization does not have as much interaction with YCDSB as it does YRDSB, but there is a misconception that faith-based boards are not as welcoming.
“Discrimination doesn’t know a faith. Discrimination is just strictly about behaviours of hate and bigotry,” he said.
He said it is important that students and staff know resources are available.
"The whole point of celebrating Pride Month is to let people know they're not alone in their experience or their challenges."
