Pflag warns it could designate Catholic school board 'Unsafe for the LGBTQ2IA+ Community of York Region’

Yorkregion.com
April 27, 2023

York Regional Police were once again called to a York Catholic District School Board meeting as part of an ongoing dispute involving members of the LGBTQ2IA+ community and its allies, who are pushing the board to raise the Pride flag.

Police received a call about a “disturbance” on the evening of April 25 at the board’s Aurora headquarters, Duty Insp. Marc Hilliker said.

“We were called to a disturbance there and by the time we got there, most had left,” he said.

“I think they were more causing a disturbance prior to our arrival and by the time we got there, everything had calmed down. There were no injuries. There were no criminal offences. There were no threats, there was no violence, there’s no damage to any property.”

Following the meeting, Tristan Coolman, president of Pflag Canada York Region representing the LGBTQ2IA+ community, released a public letter to the board.

“We have offered our amicable and respectful support for your efforts to better support queer students and staff with each and every letter having gone unanswered,” he said.

Monday’s board meeting was the first Coolman has attended in person.

(The) meeting was deeply disturbing on a number of levels. We highly recommend you carefully read and consider the contents of this letter,” he said.

“You must reflect on this letter and we expect a response to avoid an official designation from our organization as ‘Unsafe for the LGBTQ2IA+ Community of York Region’.”

Coolman was invited to the meeting by two students, who made a deputation imploring the board to fly the Progress Pride Flag during Pride Month and he said he was initially pleased.

“The atmosphere was at first very welcoming and it was incredible to see the community come out to support,” he said.

“I was also incredibly pleased with the prayers shared at the start of the board meeting as well. They were words that reflected the values I expect from religion and faith, promoting a welcoming environment for all and encouraging others to heed these words within and outside of the space. It would all end there.”

There was a board-approved presentation “containing discriminatory and bigoted commentary towards the queer community and a poorly managed takeover of the meeting by bullies whose goal was to intimidate a pair of high school students,” Coolman said.

Obscenities and insults were hurled at the students following their deputation and teacher and parent Paolo De Buono was not permitted to give his deputation, he said.

While those making disparaging remarks aimed at the LGBTQ2IA+ community were removed from the meeting, they remained in the lobby, Coolman said.

“Their messages of hate permeated the doors and walls of the meeting and continued to intimidate the community inside,” he said.

Coolman believes the board has mismanaged its handling of the ongoing issue and said police should have been asked to attend the meeting from the beginning.

Pflag will begin its process of designating the board an unsafe space for the LGBTQ2IA+ community of York Region on June 1, he said.