‘We are not silent anymore’: York Catholic students walk out over board’s decision not to fly Pride flag
Posted June 8, 2023 11:11 am.
Last Updated June 8, 2023 6:39 pm.
Hundreds of students in York Region staged a walkout on Thursday afternoon in response to the York Catholic District School Board’s decision not to fly the Pride flag.
Many students swapped out their uniforms for more colourful attire, waving flags, hoisting signs, and letting their voices be heard at a number of protests across the region including the board’s headquarters in Aurora.
“Stop being homophobic it’s Pride month baby! We’re who we are. This is who we are meant to be and this is how we will be,” said Jayson, a Grade 11 student demonstrating outside St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School.
“We are here we’ve been here forever and we are not going away and I think they need to understand that something as simple as raising the Pride flag can make someone feel so important and that they belong,” said another Grade 11 student, Achilles.
Jordyn, a 16-year-old who is no longer a student at the Catholic board, came out to support the students, saying they left the YCDSB before starting high school – a move that saved their life.
“I went to a Catholic elementary school for 10 years from JK to Grade 8 and I had to suppress my identity and who I was for as many of those years as I could remember,” Jordyn said.
“Getting out of the school was the best decision my parents ever let me make.”
The walkout followed months of contentious board meetings and pleas from students to raise the Pride flag. Ultimately six of 10 trustees voted at its May 29 meeting against a motion that would have allowed Pride flags to fly in front of its education centre in June, making it the only major school board in the GTA to reject the rainbow flag.
Some argued flying the flag would not solve bullying while the school board chair said elements of the flag do not align with their Catholic values. Frank Alexander has since said the board will instead focus its attention on making systemic changes that support marginalized students, although he did not detail what those changes might be.
“Intersectionality is probably the biggest thing I could say,” responded Isio, one of the walkout organizers advocating flying the flag. “Jesus taught us to love everyone equally, to love thy neighbour and this is the most love I have seen in a long time in this school board.”
Isio adds as she prepares to graduate, she wants to ensure a safe environment for the next generation of students.
“I think incoming students who see this sort of thing will say, wow, people at the school actually support me and care about me and it really means a lot.”
The school said students have the right to assemble peacefully and according to those protesting, this is just the beginning.
“This walkout means change to me,” said Patrick, one of the walkout organizers. “It means that people in this school board and in this school community want this to happen and want change. We are not silent anymore.”
The York Catholic board’s decision was a topic of discussion at Queen’s Park last week. Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the Pride flag is something everyone can rally behind.
“It represents a welcome, inclusive message for every child,” he said.
All three opposition parties are calling on Lecce to direct the board, and all publicly funded school boards, to fly Pride flags.
Michael Ranger contributed to this report
