Several Toronto mayoral candidates are speaking out and showing their support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community following the York Catholic District School Board’s (YCDSB) decision to vote against flying the Pride flag in front of its education centre in June.
At a meeting on Monday night, the trustees voted 6-4 against the motion at the education centre in Aurora. This comes after numerous meetings and presentations regarding flying the flag throughout June for Pride Month.
“The motion, after the recorded vote, the motion is defeated,” Chair Frank Alexander said in the publicly recorded meeting. Following the announcement, he ordered security to escort a few people, who shared their disappointment, from the room.
Shameful vote by @YCDSB Trustees. They defeat the motion to raise the Pride flag with 4 in favour and 6 against. @Izzy74 @TCDSBdirector @TECT951 @mariarizzo @idalipreti @TrusteeDAmico pic.twitter.com/JJKnEG0Hc5
— Trustee Markus de Domenico TCDSB Ward 2 (@Markus4Ward2) May 30, 2023
Back in April, York Region parents caused major disruptions during a board meeting regarding the same topic of raising the Pride flag. Parents and other attendees at the gallery got so heated that police needed to be called in to handle the situation.
#BREAKING Police called in to manage the crowd at the York Catholic District School Board meeting. The topic of raising the Pride flag at YCDSB schools this June sparked this scene. The man at the beginning who you are seeing get swarmed was there to support raising the flag. pic.twitter.com/WLcYfezmhl
— Michelle Mackey (@michellemackey) April 26, 2023
Some parents were expressing their defiance against raising the Pride flag towards the YCDSB trustees, and at students advocating for the cause. The turmoil extended past the gallery into the hallway where parents started shouting “shame!” and “devil incarnate” towards TCDSB teacher and parent Paolo De Buono, who was in favour of raising the flag.
At Monday’s meeting, the school board released a letter of conduct outlining its expectations for those attending the meeting. In the letter, it urged everyone to respect everyone’s differences, ideas and opinions and to be courteous and polite. In addition, the school board asked everyone to sign in and show identification upon arrival.
In response to the final vote, the YCDSB says the decision reflects equality across all of the school board’s communities.
“After listening to the feedback of community members, the Board of Trustees has decided to maintain its long-standing policy of only flying the Canadian flag on the school board owned property, in order to equally represent all of the YCDSB’s many communities. Many YCDSB schools, particularly secondary schools, have shown versions of the Pride Flag inside their schools for years and that practice will not change,” the school board said in a statement Tuesday.
REACTIONS FROM MAYORAL CANDIDATES
The YCDSB’s decision has received a wave of reactions from multiple mayoral candidates running in Toronto’ s upcoming by-election, all of whom are sharing their empathy and support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
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Frontrunner Olivia Chow says, “…YCDSB has made a decision to leave room for homophobia and transphobia—it’s shameful and doesn’t represent the majority of people.”
Flying the Pride flag says to 2SLGBTQ+ students: you are welcome here.
— Olivia Chow (@oliviachow) May 30, 2023
Everyone should feel safe at public schools.
YCDSB has made a decision to leave room for homophobia and transphobia—it’s shameful and doesn’t represent the majority of people. https://t.co/XF38Os3PLj
City councillor Josh Matlow calls the final verdict “disappointing, cowardly and wrong.”
The YCDSB’s decision not to fly the Pride Flag during Pride Month is disappointing, cowardly and wrong.
— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) May 30, 2023
This flag represents justice, acceptance and dignity. And schools should always be places where everyone feels safe and included. 🏳️🌈 https://t.co/2xxvFwx7vV
Former city councillor Ana Bailão and former Scarborough-Guildwood MPP Mitzie Hunter also joined the conversation.
Thanks for reaching out. To be clear, I’m a strong supporter of our LGBTQ2S+ community. I condemn the decision of @YCDSB to lower the pride flag — LGBTQ2S+ rights are of course human rights that must be wholeheartedly supported, not ignored or devalued.
— Mitzie Hunter (@MitzieHunter) May 30, 2023
We all have a… https://t.co/5R1Hlxu4yK
To 2SLGBTQIA+ kids in school in Toronto, York Region, and everywhere: you are welcome, you are loved, you belong.
— Ana Bailão (@anabailaoTO) May 30, 2023
I look forward to joining at City Hall this Thursday to raise the Pride flag to kick off Pride month: an important signal to all that Toronto stands with the… https://t.co/S8QdNXxNMU
Meanwhile, the Toronto District School Board plans on raising its Pride Flag tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. outside its education centre.
Disappointed for students @YCDSB. Proud @tdsb where all schools are directed to fly the flag and look forward to joining colleagues tomorrow as we raise the #PrideFlag at 5050 Yonge at 3:30. We have more work to do… but this is a tangible symbol of our commitment. #onted @OPSBA https://t.co/SXcQ3UHSvq pic.twitter.com/0op2LUq7Dw
— Shelley Laskin (@shelleylaskin) May 30, 2023
