B.C. School District 62 says elementary and junior high students have walk for Pride to “oppose ongoing discrimination” if they want to attend school.
John Muir and Sooke Elementary, along with three other schools, are walking for Pride on June 7th with the goal of dismantling the alleged transphobia in the education system.
Last year, the school district walked in a Pride parade, during which a teacher asserted that numerous children in her class identify as gay or transgender.
“Believe it or not, we have many children who identify as LGBTQIA+ and two students who are non-binary in my class,” said Kaitlyn De Shane, who teaches French Immersion at Ecole Poirier.
“It’s so important that they know this is a safe place and that they are accepted and that they are loved,” she added.
In a statement regarding the celebration of Pride 2024 in the B.C. school system, Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care, mentioned the importance of addressing LGBT topics to children.
“It is an opportunity for everyone in K-12 throughout B.C. to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring all students, staff and families feel welcome, safe and included,” the statement read.
Singh continued, “While we celebrate the hard-won victories of the Pride movement, we must also oppose the ongoing discrimination, intimidation and harassment experienced by 2SLGBTQIA+ people.”
“We recognize that over the past year many have faced difficult situations against rising hate, homophobia and transphobia.”
Some individuals are concerned about the youth involvement in the upcoming Pride event, noting that many of the LGBT parades contain half-naked adults.
“It’s one thing to celebrate “pride” as children safely at school where no one is in g-strings (not that I think this should be done at school) but now they want them mixing with adults dressed in possibly nothing?” said Liberty Talk host Odessa Orlewicz on X.
