Pride Month to be celebrated by local school board  

The Trillium Lakelands District School Board will be recognizing Pride Month right across the board beginning June 1.

Superintendent Jennifer Johnson shared with trustees that as part of the ongoing work of TLDSB Equity and Inclusion Task Force the support of the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, Plus community and their allies is part of the board’s commitment that all people are able to feel safe, welcomed, included and respected.

The board would like to ensure that all their schools are a positive space for all students. A recent review by school administrators suggested that most schools are ready to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and some are ready “to go deeper and continue cultural competency learning for staff, students and community.”

Pride Month will be recognized with the progress Pride flag flying from June 1 at the two education centres in Muskoka and Lindsay “as a symbol of respect and celebration of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.”

Positive space documents and website pages will be updated and ready for promotion to staff, students and the school community. Teachers will be supported with curriculum connections and resources to further imbed 2SLGBTQIA+ perspectives into classroom instruction.

The month will culminate with the progress pride flag being raised at all TLDSB schools from June 21 to June 30. The rainbow colours of the pride flag have long been a symbol of hope and peace and “raising the flag will visibly highlight the continued commitment to ensure equity, dignity, well-being, diversity and inclusion of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in TLDSB.”