School across the Limestone District School Board are recognizing Pride Week in Kingston with a variety of events and activities including flying the rainbow flag.
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Many of our students, staff, families and community members identify as members of the Rainbow or LGBTQ2S+ community. We fly the Pride flag and hold other 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 10 secondary schools, and some of our elementary schools, have student-led groups to support gender and sexuality. These clubs are safe spaces for our 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.
This year, the Board hosted its first Gender & Sexual Diversity Student Conference to allow LGBTQ2S+ students and allies to attend sessions on self-advocacy and connect with youth organizations such as the YGK Youth Pride Council.
There are gender-neutral washrooms in all of our schools and sites, and the Board continues to refine 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.