June is nationally recognized as pride month in Canada. Many institutions and organizations fly the Pride flag as a celebration of diversity. During the month of June, all Waterloo Region District School Board locations will fly the Pride flag alongside the Canadian flag. Learn more about WRDSB flying the Pride flag.

Watch this morning’s ceremony as our Board office raised the Pride flag:

From our students

As an LGBT student, and especially as a trans person, it means a lot to me to see the pride flag flying at school. In this world, we face a lot of discrimination, and general difficulties in our lives, regardless of how supportive our friends and family are. So, it’s incredible for schools, the places where we spend 30+ hours every week, to show their support. It shows that no matter what, no matter what we’re going through, we have support at school, and we can be ourselves.” (Grade 9 student)

 

The pride flag is widely known as a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community, and that there are supporters of them. A symbol of letting people be themselves without others thinking that this is a box, why don’t you fit in it? A symbol of acceptance and love regardless of the things you can’t change. To have the flag being flown at schools is another step of progress, another step closer to our goal of acceptance, equality and awareness. Love is love, and on June 1st I hope for that message to be the only one spreading like wildfire that day. It’s a day for all, whether you’re gay, bisexual, pansexual, lesbian, non-binary, transgender, asexual, so on and so forth or even an ally. The flag flying would represent those allies and those who are LGBTQ+, those that stand with the community as we live life as ourselves. The flag flying means so much and is such a simple act of kindness and love.” (Secondary student)

 

When I was in grade nine, a grand total of three people knew that I liked girls. I was afraid that my classmates, especially my sports teammates, would see me in a different light if they knew, so I was intent on staying closeted at school. Though I wanted to join, I steered clear of my school’s GSA, and didn’t participate in pride-related events for fear that someone would suspect that I was gay. It was safe, but it was also very lonely. But, even though I didn’t participate in pride month, I can genuinely say that there was one thing that made me feel less alone and brightened my mood every single day: the rainbow flag flying outside my school. I could look up at the flag and silently celebrate the community that I identified with, even if I couldn’t do it out loud. I think that this is one of the most important impacts that raising these pride flags has in our schools; in addition to supporting the out and proud LGBT+ students, it shows those students who are too shy or too scared to come out that their school stands with them, and that their true colours are not something that they should have to keep hidden.” (Grade 10 student)

Help us celebrate Pride month. You can share your stories and pictures with us on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #WRDSBpride.