York Region Catholic school students are calling for action in the wake of harassment and violence they say occurred at region-wide walkouts last week in support of Pride.
York Catholic District School Board secondary students in Newmarket and throughout York Region staged walkouts to support the LGBTQ+ community June 8 after trustees voted against flying the Pride flag at headquarters in Aurora.
YCDSB Students for Change did not include Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Newmarket in its list of schools where the incidents occurred.
Students are calling for the Ministry of Eduction to investigate the hate incidents, as well as are renewing their call for the Pride flag to be raised, and for trustees who voted against it to detail policy that will make LGBTQ+ students safer.
“Youth in the 2SLGBTQ+ community should never be subjected to hate like what was experienced during the peaceful demonstration,” the June 15 news release said. “Students deserve respect, dignity, visibility, and the freedom to be themselves, free from discrimination.”
The board has faced scrutiny and outcry over the past few weeks after a controversial decision not to fly the Pride flag by a 6-4 vote by the board of trustees. Student trustees pushed for flying the flag, and hundreds of students participated in the subsequent June 8 walkout.
YCDSB Students for Change recounted the bullying experienced by students at several schools. At St. Brother Andre Catholic High School in Markham, organizers said students had objects thrown at them, they were slurred and berated, and a Pride flag was trampled.
“Students are scared to go back to school due to how the events of June 8 escalated. In times like this, we question the YCDSB’s blindness to the need for change,” the news release said.
At Cardinal Carter Catholic High School in Aurora, students said bystanders threw rocks and spit at peacefully protesting students, in addition to verbal harassment, with calls like “get run over” and “slit your wrists.” Police were called to this scene.
Verbal harassment was described at other schools, including Holy Cross Catholic Academy and Father Bressani Catholic High School in Vaughan.
In response to the news release, YCDSB told NewmarketToday in a statement that staff has been working to address the unacceptable behaviour of harassment and assault at protesting students. It said principals and vice-principals were outside during the protests to try to stop harassment incidents from escalating.
“Additional mental health resources were brought into some schools on the day after the protest. School staff have had a number of conversations with their community to make it clear that such behaviour is unacceptable at YCDSB schools and that students are encouraged to report any information on these incidents to the administration,” the board said. “YCDSB schools have been investigating these incidents since last week. All school-based investigations have either been completed or are close to completion.”
The board said it could not share details on those investigations due to privacy rights.
York Regional Police is also investigating some of those incidents, with which YCDSB is co-operating, the board said.
Still, the board has made no indication it is budging on its decision against raising the Pride flag.
But it said that “all staff and students deserve to feel safe at school, and the YCDSB is constantly looking for new ways to make everyone feel welcomed and included. The YCDSB will fully co-operate with any investigation undertaken by the Ministry of Education.”
YCDSB Students for Change said action is needed from its representatives.
“To the students who witnessed this violence — we will always stand by you and with you. You are loved. You are valued. You belong,” the advocacy group said.
