The Education Centre and all schools across
the Limestone District School Board are recognizing Pride Month in Kingston by
flying the rainbow flag.
Please note, the Canadian flag and rainbow flag will be flown at half-mast until June 8, 2021 in memory of the 215 children killed as a result of genocide at a residential school in B.C.
Many students, staff, families and community members identify as members
of the Rainbow or LGBTQ2S+ community. We fly the Pride flag and hold events to
demonstrate our commitment to our community that our schools are safe spaces
for anyone, no matter who you are.
This is consistent with the Ontario Human
Rights Code that protects marginalized groups from discrimination and
harassment. We want everyone who learns, works or volunteers in our school
board to feel safe and supported, and experience a sense of belonging in a
caring learning environment.
Everyone has the right to be treated with
dignity and respect including our LGBTQ2S+ community (LGBTQ2S+ refers to
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and Two Spirit. The +
refers to people who identify as Intersex, Asexual or an Ally).
Each of our secondary schools, and some of our elementary schools, have
student-led groups to support gender and sexuality. These clubs are safe spaces
for students, staff, and allies of the Rainbow community to come together
and discuss issues they may be facing and topics that matter to them. These
groups are places that our students feel comfortable being themselves and can
have open and honest conversations with their peers.
There are gender-neutral washrooms in all of our schools and sites. The Board recently updated (fall 2020) a support document with definitions and explanations
regarding terms and pronouns that students may prefer for themselves.
In our elementary schools, through the Health and Physical Education
curriculum, students learn to understand and respect things that are the same
and different from each other. This includes that not every family looks the
same.
Our schools are committed to providing all of our students with a positive
school climate. We know that when students feel safe and supported in a
healthy, accepting and welcoming school climate, they have greater success. We
want everyone to see themselves in Limestone.
The board is sharing a Pride Month newsletter that provides information and resources to help us all grow in our understanding of how we can be allies in our community.
The Board has confirmed with the Government
of Canada’s flag protocol lead at Heritage Canada that where schools only have
one mast/flag pole, it is acceptable to fly the Pride flag beneath the Canadian
flag. Showing our support for LGBTQ2S+ does not diminish our respect for our
Nation’s flag.