CCGSD reaction to TCDSB Board of Trustees vote in favour of proclaiming Pride Month every June starting in 2021; and that the Pride flag be flown at the Board office and all TCDSB schools for the month of June.
May 7th, 2021
In response to today’s announcement that the Toronto Catholic District School Board has voted in favour of proclaiming the month of June Pride Month and flying Pride flag at the TCDSB office and all schools, Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, said the following:
CCGSD welcomes the passing of all 3 recommendations passed last night at the Toronto Catholic School Board on May 6th, 2021. The passing of this motion comes after growing advocacy from student leaders, educators, and parents/guardians/caregivers.
In our youth driven approach, we have heard many accounts from students on how educational spaces remain a major site of homophobic and transphobic violence. This harm is unacceptable and should never be tolerated. We are an organization that supports activism through education and, as such, we will continue in solidarity as partners in advocacy with students in Catholic schools, educators, and parents/guardians/caregivers in the province of Ontario and across Canada.
As the largest publicly funded Catholic school board in the country, this win at TCDSB will set a positive example for Catholic school boards across the country. All schools should be committed to the safety and support of 2SLGBTQ+ students and their families. CCGSD recommends that this motion’s passing lead to further systemic changes needed within the Ontario educational system. More is needed and it starts with ongoing consultation and engagement of 2SLGBTQ+ students.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to a world without discrimination. CCGSD will continue to recommend long-lasting curriculum changes alongside student leaders. We will monitor and encourage further changes to policies at the school board and Provincial level, and continue to provide educational programming to students and educators within the TCDSB.
Let the history that was made last night be a reminder to us all that student advocacy matters.
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For Information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Janani Suthan
Social Media Coordinator
CCGSD
Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah
Executive Director
CCGSD
(613)-400-1875