By Olivia Abeziz
Within the past few years the Toronto district school board (TDSB), along with other school boards, has been working towards making the school community more accepting and inclusive to all students; particularly the students within the LGBTQ community.
In 2009, the TDSB created a gender-based violence office. The first of its kind in Canada; the office works to promote healthy relationships and safe environments. Here the TDSB focuses on preventing and addressing gender-based violence such as homophobia, sexual harassment, and inappropriate sexual behavior by students towards other students in schools.
In June of 2017, the TDSB actively participated in the annual Toronto Pride Parade. Many people within the TDSB/LGBTQ community came out to not only march in the parade but also to ride on the TDSB’s very own float.
As part of their plan to promote unity and equality, the TDSB holds the annual Director's GSA Awards. Every year the TDSB recognizes three schools within the board that have outstanding trans-positive, Queer-Straight- alliance (GSA) groups. The winning schools are awarded $1000 each, as a thanks to the student-led groups that demonstrate a constant effort to help create a school environment that is positive & safer for students and staff of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The winners for the 2017 GSA Awards were George S. Henry Academy, Newtonbrook Secondary School, and Queen Alexandra Middle School.
The TDSB is continuing to make Toronto’s schools more inclusive and accepting for LGBTQ students through Board wide groups, clubs, events and activities. Schools can also now request to have a washroom for all. JPCI will have one of these washrooms soon.