Catholic board backs down on flag plan
WATERLOO REGION — Facing an intense public backlash, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board has backed down from a plan to fly its own version of a flag during Pride month.
“After receiving feedback from the broader community — but, more importantly, also from some of our students — it is clear that the WCDSB’s decision to fly a provincially developed image on a flag during June, to mark Pride month, which was intended to send a message of unity and support, has instead led to division,” read a statement released Friday evening.
“Out of sincere respect for all viewpoints shared, the school board will not fly any flag during Pride month.”
The board said the proposed
flag will be displayed in school foyers throughout the 2020-2021 school year, as the board consults with the LGBTQ2+ community on next steps.
The controversy began earlier this week when plans for the alternate flag — and not the universally-recognized rainbow Pride flag — were discussed at a board meeting.
The proposed flag, one of several options provided to the board via the Institute for Catholic Education, includes an illustration of Jesus with his arms outstretched, standing in front of a colourful crowd of people with the words, “We are all wonderfully made — we love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).”
The flag itself received a mixed reaction from trustees and members of the public, with many questioning why the board wouldn’t fly the rainbow Pride flag if it wished to show support for its LGBTQ2+ students, staff and parents. Catholic schools in Ontario generally have not flown any flags in support of Pride month; the board in Thunder Bay is a rare exception.
Trustee Greg Reitzel then drew condemnation for comments at the meeting, in which he called Pride “the deadliest of the deadly sins” and said he’d resign if the Pride flag was flown.
He later maintained his words were taken out of context, and said he was “deeply saddened” that people were hurt by what he said. An apology from
Reitzel was conveyed via board chair Bill Conway.
Kitchener resident and member of the LGBTQ2+ community Carly Pettinger said Friday evening that the board still won’t say why they won’t fly the rainbow Pride flag.
“We’re left to connect the dots ourselves,” she said. “No publicly-funded education system in Ontario should be allowed to hold anti-LGBTQ2+ values.”
Pettinger said the board squandered an opportunity to be courageous. “Any equity and inclusion work they hope to do right now would be seen as meaningless,” she said. “They’ve really further damaged the relationship.”
Cait Glasson, president of the Waterloo region LGBTQ+ organization, SPECTRUM, had seen the alternate flag as a small step in the right direction. On Friday evening, Glasson said she saw some optimism in the board’s decision.
“It sounds like they will continue to consult and talk,” said Glasson, adding her comments represented a personal opinion. “I’ve got to say, personally, I think it’s promising but there’s a long way to go yet.”
The controversy may have sparked an opportunity for education, Glasson said, working toward a long-term goal to “recognize our humanity and fly the flag, and celebrate the diversity they’ve got within their system.”