Parents and Students Prepare for Pride Month: School Walk-Outs Scheduled as Discussions on LGBT Lessons in Schools Continue
June is Pride Month, which often involves LGBT-related events and discussions in schools across Canada. Some school walk-outs are planned at the beginning of the month to coincide with pride flag-raising ceremonies.
Prior to the start of the month, a parental rights group hosted a virtual summit where speakers discussed how gender and sexuality issues are presented to children in Canadian schools. Some parents have expressed concerns about these topics.
The National Parents Rights Spring Virtual Summit occurred on May 25, bringing together parents who seek more input on their children’s education. Some parents have formed parental rights groups, such as the Parents Rights Coalition of Canada (PRCOC) formed in July 2023. Regional groups have also emerged, including the Educating Minds: Parents of Waterloo Region (EMPOWR) in Waterloo.
These groups provide support and guidance for parents looking to understand the curriculum in schools. Some organize delegations for school board meetings and protests.
There is a growing demand for increased parental rights in Canada, especially on sensitive subjects taught in schools. New Brunswick and Saskatchewan have passed laws mandating schools to notify parents about a student’s gender transition. Alberta has proposed rules requiring parental opt-in for gender or sexuality-related lessons.
Former high school teacher Chanel Pfahl highlighted that gender ideology is being taught in Canadian schools without parental consent.
During Pride Month, LGBT terms are incorporated into morning announcements at some schools as “words of the day,” according to Pfahl.
As a parent, Pfahl warned that schools may not inform parents about these topics directly and may share ideas through various activities like school assemblies.
Walkouts, Prayers Planned for Pride Month
Several school walkout events were organized last year to coincide with Pride flag-raising ceremonies. Some groups are preparing similar events for 2024, while school boards deliberate on flag-raising decisions.
One pro-life group, the Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), is organizing a national walkout day to protest the raising of Pride flags at schools.
Pride Month usually commences with the raising of a pride flag on June 1, but due to scheduling, some schools may raise it on different dates. CLC has scheduled its walkout for May 31 – June 4.
CLC is also hosting pray-ins at school board offices in Ontario.
Several school boards are discussing whether to raise pride flags at schools, including Ontario’s York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB), which decided not to fly the flag in 2023. The education minister advised school boards to support LGBT students.
Stephen Lecce issued a memo urging school boards to show support for LGBT students.
YCDSB’s situation has continued into this year, with trustee Frank Alexander proposing a ban on flags other than the Canadian flag inside schools. The Dufferin Peel Catholic School Board in Ontario recently revised its flag policies to allow additional flags with approval.
The group Parents as First Educators expressed concerns about this new policy.
“It remains to be seen whether the Director will condone the Pride flag being flown or enforce sanctions on schools that fly it,” said Teresa Pierre, the group’s founder.
Tara MacIsaac contributed to this article.
