Here is a collection of resources to help cultivate a safe and welcoming space for everyone in Limestone.
As the world celebrates Pride Month, honouring global 2SLGBTQ+ accomplishments and recognizing the social justice work that still needs to be done, this is a great time to reflect on our role, as educators, in ensuring all LDSB students and staff feel well-supported and a sense of belonging in Limestone.
Kingston Pride Parade: Saturday, June 18, 2022
The parade starts at 11am. LDSB will have a school bus as part of the contingent.
Where:
McBurney (Skeleton) Park, 30 Alma Street.
When:
The Parade is scheduled to begin at 11am. All participants are asked to arrive at 10am for staging.
LDSB students and staff please arrive at McBurney Park by 10:00 am to decorate the bus, distribution of LDSB Pride t-shirts and parade staging. Look for the yellow school bus!
Parking:
Unless otherwise communicated, there is no defined parking location for parade participants. Patrick, Bay, Raglan, Redden and Sydenham Streets may provide street parking around McBurney (Skeleton) Park.
(Kingston Pride contact: Jamie George (She/Her)
Route:
The parade route leaves McBurney Park and travels down Princess Street, onto Ontario and ends at Confederation Park in front of City Hall.
Depending on number of participants the school bus can take participants back up to McBurney Park immediately following the parade. Boarding of the bus (potentially) on Market Street/Ontario.
About the FLag
In addition to the 6 colors of the original Rainbow Flag, this flag includes five arrow-shaped lines acknowledging groups that have been historically left out of Pride events.
The black and brown stripes represent members of the Black, Indigenous, and racialized 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
The pink, light blue, and white stripes incorporate the colours of the Transgender Pride flag.
The purple circle and yellow triangle represent the Intersex community.
Let's Share LDSB's Pride across the District!
Would your school like to help decorate the Pride Bus or make banners/signs for the Pride parades?
Please reach out to Rae McDonald, with your inquiries or updates!
ELEMENTARY RESOURCES
Here is an article with tips on addressing frequently asked questions in an ELEMENTARY SETTING:
"Kids today are already being exposed to information about sexual orientation and gender identity from a young age. It is time to move from the debate about whether or not we should be having these conversations, and consider how we should be having these conversations."
Read more here: https://www.edcan.ca/articles/how-young-can-sogi-go/
ETFO: ETFO continues to provide groundbreaking work in the area of 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion in Ontario classrooms. Their 2SLGBTQ+ resources and information are included here:PDF |Word.
Inclusive SECONDARY SETTING Strategies:
- Begin with researching 2SLGBTQ+ personalities reflective of your subject area and have pictures displayed, names listed as part of possible project topics to celebrate their contributions
- Explore historical events that demonstrate the oppression of this group (e.g. World War Two/ Pink Triangle, Stonewall riots in NYC) in subject areas such as History, English, and Family Studies.
- Consider same-sex word phrases in your examples, on tests, etc.
- Choose positive representations of the 2SLGBTQ+ community for films, book selections (i.e. “Boy Meets Boy” by David Levithan) to support the normalization of the 2SLGBTQ+ community)
- Encourage continued critical thinking skills through deconstruction: allow students to look for the “silences,” the “invisibility” in media, art, music, and literature, of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities (e.g. TV commercials and representation)
- Ensure the 2SLGBTQ+ voice is represented when teaching about social sciences, social theories, families, health and physical education (e.g. healthy relationships).
- Use inclusive vocabulary that demonstrates to your students that you are not assuming everyone in the classroom is heterosexual.
Supporting & Protecting LDSB Transgender-Spectrum and/or Gender Non-Conforming Students
The Board recently updated (fall 2020) a support document with definitions and explanations regarding terms and pronouns that students may prefer for themselves.
The following guidelines preserve and protect the rights, privacy, confidentiality, safety, health, and dignity of transgender and/or gender non-conforming students at all times – in all Limestone District School Board schools, related events and activities – both inside and outside of school hours: Supporting & Protecting LDSB Transgender-Spectrum and/or Gender Non-Conforming Students
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