With June 1 marking the first day of Pride Month, local schools are reaffirming their commitment to fly the rainbow flag as a symbol of inclusivity.
The St. Clair Catholic District School Board said on Wednesday that all elementary and secondary schools and the Catholic Education Centre will raise the Pride flag throughout the month of June.
“Our schools are committed to nurturing inclusive Catholic learning environments, where every student and every member of the community is welcomed, safe, valued and respected,” the board said in a statement.
The local board’s affirmation of the rainbow flag comes on the heels of a recent decision by the York Catholic District School Board to not fly the banner during Pride Month. The York school board voted 6-4 against raising the flag on Monday.
As well, the nearby township of Norwich voted in April to exclude Pride flags and all other non-civic flags from being flown on municipal property.
“The Church recognizes and defends the human rights of each person, principles that are further enshrined in law through the Ontario Human Rights Code,” the St. Clair Catholic board said in its statement. “As educators and caring adults, we have a duty to protect and accompany every student, especially the most marginalized.”
When asked if the Lambton-Kent District School Board would continue to fly the flag during Pride Month, as it has in past years, Director of Education John Howitt pointed to the board’s flag protocol.
The policy explicitly states that “the Pride Flag will fly at all LKDSB facilities during the month of June,” a policy Howitt says has been in place for nearly a decade.
“The LKDSB believes it is incumbent that everyone who enters our schools or workplaces feels safe, supported and welcomed,” Howitt said. “Flying the Progress Pride flag at LKDSB buildings demonstrates our commitment to this, and helps ensure students and staff from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community know they are a welcome member of the LKDSB community.”