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'Welcomed, valued and safe': Hundreds gather to raise Pride flag at YRDSB

Students and staff from Dr. J.M. Denison Secondary School in Newmarket spoke at the flag-raising ceremony that kicks off Pride Month at York Region District School Board

Students, staff and members of the community gathered at the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) office in Aurora today to raise the Progress Pride flag for Pride Month in June. 

Before the flag was raised, students from Dr. J.M. Denison Secondary School in Newmarket spoke about their experiences as queer youth and their involvement in the school's gay-straight alliance. 

Megan, who uses she/her pronouns, is a Grade 12 student at Denison and president of the GSA. She began by expressing her appreciation for the flag-raising event and disappointment that the other school board in the region wouldn't be doing the same, referencing the decision of the York Catholic District School Board to not raise Pride flags this month. 

"I hope that by raising this flag here today, we can help people feel less alone. Let it serve as a reminder our school system has to do just that: make sure every single student knows that they matter and that they’re loved for every single piece of themselves," she said. 

She shared that through the GSA, she was able to discover herself and become comfortable in her identity. 

Megan also highlighted the importance of a supportive school environment for 2SLGBTQIA+ students as she has many friends who aren't met with love and support at home. 

“This is why having a supportive school environment is so incredibly important. When home is not supportive or even just lacks the ability to fully empathize with the struggles of being a queer youth, it is imperative that school is able to become a place where students feel safe to express themselves and meet others who share their experiences,”she said. 

Bentley, who uses he/they pronouns, is another student at Denison who spoke on the importance of the GSA. He learned he was transgender during the pandemic and shared how it was a challenging time trying to dress more masculine to make other people understand he was male. 

“During this time I felt pretty uncomfortable and I didn’t like myself some days,” he said. 

However, with the support of family, friends and the GSA at school, Bentley came to understand that they could break gender norms and be themselves. 

"I knew who I was and I decided that I didn’t want to let clothing or other people change that,” he said. 

Joining the GSA at Denison made a big difference. 

"It was an amazing moment for me. Just seeing the amount of people in the GSA really meant a lot to me because it made me feel welcomed and a part of our community. This group is the best I’ve known,” he said. 

The GSA is led by Sabryna Sullivan, known by students as Ms. Sully, who is a teacher, guidance counsellor and queer woman. She said there are more than 200 students at Denison who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and over half of them are not out yet. 

She acknowledged the work the board has done but said there is a lot more to do. 

Last year, Sullivan said their school applied for funding to allow for a guidance counsellor with lived queer experiences, in this case herself, to support the students. The program was hugely successful with improvements in overall school attendance, engagement and student well-being. 

"2SLGBTQIA+ guidance works and is necessary and these lovely Denison kids here today are proof that it makes a difference,” she said. 

She called for this program to be made permanent, to be in place in all schools and to expand support to elementary schools. 

“There is no denying that this position needs to continue, multiply, and be rolled out so that other students can be connected with their own Ms. Sully,” she said. 

Sullivan went on to call for other changes throughout the school board, including prioritizing elementary and secondary level GSA conferences for the board, creating more roles for 2SLGBTQIA+ staff to be role models and representation for students, and especially for real gender neutral washrooms. 

She said currently the gender neutral washrooms are accessible washrooms with a "jazzy new sign." She said since these spaces were designed for people with mobility issues, so they have automatic doors that open and close slowly, drawing a lot of attention to students trying to utilize them. 

"This is not gender neutral. This is not safe. And it does nothing to support the students who need it. This is checking a box that shouldn’t be checked as it solves nothing,” she said. 

Sullivan added that at Denison there are transgender and non-binary students who don't eat or drink at school because there isn't a bathroom they are comfortable using. 

"How can we even begin to think we have done enough to support these kids or call ourselves allies?" she said. 

Sullivan concluded that she is proud of where the board is now but there is more to do. 

"These kids need us and we must demand of ourselves and of each other that we make our school board one that is worthy of their bravery and value," she said. 


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Elizabeth Keith

About the Author: Elizabeth Keith

Elizabeth Keith is a general assignment reporter. She graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2017. Elizabeth is passionate about telling local stories and creating community.
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