‘Disappointed’: YCDSB students speak out after chaotic board meeting over Pride flag

Two students who have been advocating for flying the Pride flag are speaking out after being caught in the middle of another chaotic York Catholic District School Board meeting on Tuesday.

Security guards were forced to remove members of the community who disrupted the meeting as tempers flared during a debate over raising the Pride flag. Some in the audience could be heard chanting “shame” and “disgusting” at board members and those attempting to speak on the matter.

Eighteen-year-old Isio Emakpor and 17-year-old Patrick Mikkelsen say they were very emotional after the meeting, adding they and other supporters were absolutely shaken by the opposition and backlash coming from the gallery.

“I was disappointed that so many people were being so cruel, especially that my peers were crying, and they brought people I know and people I care about to tears,” said Emakpor, who believes the school board could have done more to support them in that situation.

CityNews requested interviews with the board chair and the director of education, however both were unavailable.

“We are most upset that students felt distressed as a result of what happened in the board meeting itself,” said YCDSB spokesperson Mark Brosens, who noted that the chair called for the ejection of people in the gallery and paused the meeting so they could be removed.

“We are going to be putting into place new measures at our next board meeting to attempt to try and have order there.”

The two grade 12 students were also very candid about their fight for inclusion and what it’s been like growing up in a Catholic school.

“We are not talked about in the curriculum in classes, most classes won’t even acknowledge the fact that Queer people exist and it’s upsetting not being able to see myself in the place where I go every single day to learn,” explained Emakpor.

With graduation on the horizon, there is now a petition with more than 1,100 signatures in support of flying the Pride flag in June and both are hopeful this will be the year.

“Making sure that happens is something that I think we have to do and I definitely want to leave behind for students in the years to come,” said Mikkelsen.

The YCDSB told CityNews it is continuing to have ongoing conversations with a number of stakeholders about whether or not to fly the Pride Flag in June and a decision is expected to be made in the coming weeks.

Both Isio and Patrick say they plan on being at the next board meeting in May.