School District 51 (SD51) is working to create a sexual orientation policy in light of new national reports of bullying, name-calling and suicides.
Under its current policy, while SD51 mentions the issues of bullying and racism, it is located amongst other topics.
There is nothing specific that addresses the biases in treatment of students of differing sexual orientation, nor any further education about the subject.
Trustee Vicki Gee, who discussed the issue of a new policy at the last board meeting, noted that other school districts had some policies but hopes to make sexual orientation a separate policy in this district.
Policies in other districts vary, where some school districts include it within other policies, others have a separate piece.
“(The policy) has to do with acceptance and supporting people who feel isolated,” stated Gee.
Gee noted those who are isolated and depressed are more prone to self-harm and suicide.
The policy on sexual orientation includes those who consider themselves lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and transsexual, as well as family and friends.
There are currently 14 districts in B.C. that have a policy dealing with sexual orientation and the remaining 54, including SD51, do not.
“Those policies that combine the issue with general bullying also missed the point,” Gee noted. “I think (sexual orientation) is different from other forms of discrimination and bullying.”
“This isn’t just about how we treat people with different sexual orientation, it’s about sexuality being used as a weapon. It’s about how they treat each other and I think a powerful statement can be made in our district with this policy.”
Norm Sabourin, president of the Boundary Teacher’s Association, brought forward the issue because it is important to discuss.
“I urge the trustees to pursue this and look into it,” said Sabourin.
“I realize that there’s a lot of work and research that needs to go into this. In light of some recent suicides attributed to gay bashing, I hope that the board looks at this is a pro-active way.”
Statistically, Gee pointed out, one per cent of all humans are sexually ambiguous.
In a school district of 1,400 students, there could potentially be 14 dealing with the issue of sexual orientation, she added.
“This may also include staff members and students’ families,” said Gee. “We don’t hear a lot about it from the district, which may not be a good thing because they are suffering in silence.”
A motion was passed for the policy committee to continue to research and create a draft on a policy on sexual orientation.
The policy will then be returned to the board to be discussed again in the upcoming year.
