Former Catholic board students launch LGBTQ petition
KITCHENER — More than 1,900 people have signed a petition calling on the Waterloo Catholic District School Board to bring about more inclusivity for the LGBTQ community.
The petition, launched by the newly formed Student Pride Movement, was created by a group of former students in reaction to controversies surrounding the board’s decision not to fly the traditional rainbow Pride flag this month.
A complete list of all petition signatures — which includes some current teachers and staff — will be delivered to the board for review on June 19. Surveys of current and former students, as well as allies who “want their voices heard,” will also be delivered to the board.
Led by former students Emma Fritz, Cheyenne Sexton and Eli Srouji, the group wants the board to “commit to making tangible policy changes, specifically in their division of Equity, Diversity and Learning, in which they will directly make a statement that they will not tolerate discrimination against gender or sexual orientation within their community.”
It also wants the board to declare all its spaces as safe places for LGBTQ staff and students, and to fly the traditional rainbow Pride flag in June 2021.
“We want the board to know that you do have these students,” said Fritz, who said she came out after graduating from high school. “They might not be vocal, and they might be confused, but they’re here and we need to do a better job of supporting them.”
Education Director Loretta Notten said she was made aware of the petition and has attempted to make contact with the group via the board’s chief social worker.
“I indicated that I thought it best we dialogue and that I was interested in doing so through a representative of the group,” she said.
Fritz, who said she was unaware of any attempt by the board to reach out, said she would “love” to set up a discussion.
The group’s petition is in reaction to a series of events that began in May when plans for an alternative flag to the universally recognized rainbow Pride flag were discussed at a board meeting. The board’s proposed flag, one of several options provided by 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).”
Trustee Greg Reitzel drew public condemnation for comments he made 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 later conveyed via board chair Bill Conway.
The board said its flag will be displayed in school foyers throughout the 2020-2021 school year, and Notten said they are committed to “continuing the dialogue and moving forward.”
“We love our school board and that’s why we’re doing this,” said Fritz.
“We want to support the students of the past, the present and the future. We want to work together with the school board, we don’t want to work against them.”