Gulf Islands School District (Canada) Pro-Active Diversity Policy

British Columbia, Canada

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Type: Policy

Status: Adopted on 6/28/06

Source File: http://galebc.org/Policy_617.pdf

Text:

School District #64 (Gulf Islands)

LGBTTIQQ DIVERSITY

Rationale:
The Board of School Trustees recognizes and values the diversity found within its school communities and believes that each individual contributes to the strength of the district’s culture. The Board also recognizes that students and other school community members identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, queer, or questioning (LGBTTIQQ) face a unique set of challenges within our schools and communities. Individuals who are dealing with or are perceived to be dealing with issues of gender identity, gender expression, intersexuality or sexual orientation, as well as their families, are frequently the targets of homophobic, transphobic, or heterosexist behaviours. This often results in a struggle with a variety of profound social consequences including discrimination, harassment, physical and sexual violence, social and emotional isolation, substance abuse, homelessness, school truancy and drop-out, self-harm and suicide.

It is with this reality in mind and with an understanding that each member of the school and district community must share the responsibility for changing this reality.

Policy
The Board will promote a safe environment, free from harassment and discrimination, by encouraging pro-active strategies and guidelines to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, queer, and questioning students, employees and families are welcomed and included in all aspects of education and school life and treated with respect and dignity.

Any language or behaviour that degrades, denigrates, labels, stereotypes, incites hatred, prejudice, discrimination, harassment towards students or employees on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identification will not be tolerated. Schools will be encouraged to specifically include the prohibition of such language and behaviour in their student codes of conduct.