October 11th, 2019

October 11 is National Coming Out Day, a day to celebrate coming out and to raise awareness about the LGBTQ+ community and obstacles they face as a result of coming out. “Coming out ” can hold very real and negative consequences, which is why it is so important that we create safe, inclusive and accepting school and classroom environments.  

Creating safe spaces for all students to learn is essential to their academic success and well-being. To create those safe spaces, we need to understand the lived experiences of our students. That’s why we partnered with the Rainbow Community Council to offer students the opportunity to participate in The OUTLook Study. Students chose to participate in the study on their own, on their own time. Out of the 526 participants, 63 were in high school or recently graduated.

The OUTLook study provides a snapshot of the experiences of LGBTQ+ students in our district and Waterloo Region. Through this study, we learned that:

  • Trans students are more likely to be out than cisgender LGBQ students, especially to their friends and teachers
  • 74% of trans students avoid using public washrooms
  • 83% of trans students and 63% of LGBQ students reported some form of discrimination, such as being made fun of or called names
  • Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) provide LGBTQ+ students with a safe space and a sense of belonging 
  • Trans people, particularly trans women, are perceived to be least accepted within Waterloo Region than other LGBQ people

 

Our schools strive to be safe spaces for everyone that walks through our doors. Many of our students, parents, caregivers, staff and community members identify as LGBTQ+. We have several initiatives, policies and procedures in place to promote equity and inclusion and ensure the well-being of LGBTQ+ students, staff and community members:

Each June, every WRDSB school and Education Centre fly the Pride flag. This small gesture can have a big impact on those who are marginalized or experience discrimination. Showing that our schools are safe spaces for everyone and that students and staff are supported in their well-being and experience a sense of belonging is linked to academic success.

School-based GSA clubs help create safe spaces for students who identify as a member of the Rainbow community and their allies. Every year, students have an opportunity to attend the annual GSA conference, held in partnership with OK2BME.

In 2017, we introduced Administrative Procedure 1235 – Accommodation of persons who identify as transgender. Every administrator participated in a full day of learning about the new procedure and what it means to identify as transgender.

We are grateful for the work of the Rainbow Community Council and their partners to create the OUTLook Study. We will continue creating spaces where our students, staff and community members feel safe to come to school and work, to be out as a member of the Rainbow community, and to be themselves.

Learn more about the OUTLook Study.

 

Tags: · ·