The issue of raising the Pride flag has raised debate all over Ontario including the 705. In Powassan, flying the flag was met with opposition from some community members. In the past, the municipality has passed resolutions recognizing June as Pride month but it’s the first time it’s been asked to fly the Pride flag. Mayor Peter McIsaac says Powassan is an inclusive community and that the Pride flag should be raised along with the Indigenous flag since June is also National Indigenous History Month in Canada. Council unanimously passed the Pride flag resolution.
The Powassan library has also voiced its support for Pride Month by tweeting, “Everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, gender or sexuality, is welcome here; as such, we’ll be flying the pride flag this month as a symbol of our commitment to providing a safe, inclusive, non-judgmental space for all.” This month’s Book Club theme is Pride and Poetry
Last week, Ontario’s York Catholic District School Board voted against flying the pride flag at its Catholic Education Centre in June which is known globally as Pride Month. Advocates and critics have clashed for months over the issue, with police being called to board meetings several times.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce said the province supports the LGBTQ community, adding “Every child in a publicly funded school should be supported, should feel heard, and should feel safe … and that’s been our position in the province since the issue arose and we’ll continue to make that case.” However, Lecce said he won’t force the board to fly the flag by issuing a mandate.
The YCDSB maintains that raising the Pride flag would conflict with their faith. Other school boards, including the Toronto Catholic District School Board, are raising the Pride flag at all schools in the month of June.
Advocates like Paolo De Buono, a Catholic teacher at another school board, says the decision puts students at risk and leaves them feeling excluded and unprotected. Students will be holding a walkout on June 8th to protest the decision.
705BLACKFLY.COM spoke with Paolo about the ongoing debate and its impact on students. Please listen to an excerpt from our interview and we will run the complete interview this weekend on our radio show “Beyond Headlines” on 88.7FM The Bay.
