Catholic School Board in Ontario Rejects Proposal to Fly Pride Flag at Schools
The Toronto-area Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board has decided against raising the pride flag at its schools.
Trustees Paula Dametto-Giovannozzi, Herman Viloria, Luz del Rosario (Chair), Darryl D’Souza, Anisha Thomas, and Thomas Thomas opposed the motion.
Brea Corbet, Bruno Iannicca, and Mario Pascucci supported flying non-government flags. Trustees Shawn Xaviour and Stefano Pascucci were absent.
Five delegates, including representatives of Campaign Life Coalition and Parents as First Educators, made presentations urging the board to vote against flying the pride flag. They expressed satisfaction with the board’s decision.
“The significance of this victory cannot be understated,” said Josie Luetke, Campaign Life Coalition’s director of education and advocacy. “This victory is an incredible testament to the power of both prayer and grassroots lobbying.”
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“The cross outside of Catholic schools and any Catholic church, hospital, or institution signals our commitment that all who enter the building are welcomed and loved in their beauty and uniqueness as children of God,” the cardinal declared.
“There is a belief among some that unless one embraces secular symbols, one cannot be inclusive or accepting. This is simply not true.”
The 2021 statement emphasized that Catholic educators should remain faithful to Catholic teaching, even when it conflicts with societal views. It noted that those who adhere to these teachings often face ridicule, mockery, and exclusion.
Debate
Trustee Brea Corbet, a proponent of flying non-government flags, highlighted the aggressive smear campaign targeting the issue.
“Since our vote on June 4 at our bylaw and policies review committee meeting, it has resulted in targeted advocacy, aggressive campaigns, smear campaigns, intended to use intimidation, and threats to influence the decision tonight,” she stated.
Ms. Corbet mentioned receiving hate speech and discriminatory language from individuals claiming to be Catholic through phone calls, emails, and social media messages.
“It was defamation of character and reputational harm to the integrity of this board, and it has to stop,” she asserted.
Jack Fonseca, Campaign Life Coalition’s director of political operations, mentioned the ongoing battle, as pride flags are still permissible inside the schools.
“Parents and faithful trustees must work even harder to remove ‘Pride’ symbols from inside the classroom,” he urged.
The Dufferin-Peel board is not the first Catholic school board in Ontario to prohibit the flag-raising. In 2023, the York Catholic District School Board voted against raising the flag for Pride Month.
“That includes celebrating Pride in a constructive, positive, and meaningful ways to affirm that 2SLGBTQ+ students know that their educators and staff, school board administrators, and government stand with them,” he stated at the time.
