OUTniagara: Kudos to Niagara Catholic school board for flying progress pride flag
OUTniagara: Kudos to Niagara Catholic school board for flying progress pride flag
OUTniagara congratulates the Niagara Catholic District School Board for flying the progress rainbow flag at its administrative office and at all of its schools for the entire month of June this year.
The Niagara Catholic decision builds on last year’s landmark decision to fly the pride flag for one week in June, which is typically the month when struggles and gains of 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities are observed, honoured and celebrated. The board has about 60 schools and facilities, including eight secondary schools and 49 elementary schools.
Flying the progress pride flag was the result of discussions surrounding a multiyear strategic plan in which the topics of inclusion and diversity were persistently raised.
Celeste Turner, co-chair of OUTniagara, was raised Roman Catholic “and the first time I heard the word “gay” and learned what it meant, the immediate next thing I was told is “and those people go to hell.” “
They continued that “raising the progress pride flag at all Niagara Catholic schools sends a great sign to youth, but classrooms, school yards and bus rides are still not free of discrimination. In fact, we heard loud and clear in OUTniagara’s recent comprehensive Community Strengths and Needs Assessment (CSNA) that this is far from the truth.
To read the full report of the CSNA, click on www.outniagara.org/community-report
“Flying the flag is a visual cue to students that schools acknowledge their existence and want to be progressive. It’s a sign of hope to so many students who desperately need exactly that – hope for the future.“
The decision resonated personally with Kerry Goring, the other co-chair of OUTniagara and a former student of a Catholic school in the GTA. “For me, seeing the flag raised unleashed years of pent-up hurt and emotion. Finally, the Catholic school board is taking steps toward creating safer environments for those of us who are in the sexual- and gender-diverse community. Navigating these spaces in your informative years takes real care and support. I am glad to see that Niagara Catholic is beginning to realize the need and answering that call.”
Celeste Turner recognized the work of Niagara Catholic’s mental health lead Andrea Bozza “who understands so deeply the importance of accepting and affirming youths’ identities and the impact it has on their mental health and wellbeing.”
Several respondents to the CSNA commented on the existence of transphobia and homophobia in the public and separate schools. An attendee of a positive space program noted: “It was faculty who were causing the issues rather than students… We would submit our [club’s] announcements every week, and [the secretary] almost never played them… They put all the clubs and teams in the yearbook, and ours just wasn’t included.”
Another community member recounted: “Growing up in a Catholic school, many teachers were openly homophobic, especially in elementary school. When I reached high school, the teachers and school were more accepting. However, students still had prejudice, and the school system was built to only accommodate mainly straight white men and boys.”
The flag is a version designed by staff in the President’s Office at Brock University and shared with the Catholic board. An added purple chevron represents the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe communities and the Two Row Wampum agreement.
A note about the flag sent in advance to Niagara Catholic families from Camillo Cipriano, Director of Education, said in part:
“Our students, staff, and family members who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community have the right to be treated with dignity and respect; and to feel safe, secure, and valued within our schools.
“We are committed to meeting all students where they are on their faith, educational, and personal journeys. Statistically, 2SLGBTQ+ students are at a higher risk of mental health challenges, self-harm, or other tragic consequences due to bullying or feeling different. We have a duty of care to all students and staff and believe that flying the progress Pride flag makes clear our commitment to creating an environment that supports all who enter, and fosters inclusivity.
“We understand and respect that not all of our families support flying the progress Pride flag at our schools and sites. We see the flag as a very clear and public display that all who come to Niagara Catholic schools and sites are welcome, accepted, unconditionally loved, and respected as children of God. Further, it is a visible statement to our students, staff, and families that our schools are safe, inclusive places to learn and grow.”
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