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.
Limestone District School Board will be flying the Progress Pride Flag for the month of June!
Many students, staff, families, and community members identify as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. We fly the Progress Pride flag, engage in inclusive programming, and hold events to demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that everyone not only sees themselves in Limestone but also feels a strong sense of belonging and connectedness.
This is consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code which protects marginalized groups from discrimination and harassment. We want everyone who learns, works or volunteers in our school board to feel safe and supported, valued and seen.
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.
Come Help Us Carry the Quilts at the Parades!
In cooperation with Kingston School of Art (KSOA), LDSB school-based, equity-related clubs and interested individuals/families across Limestone District School Board participated in the collaborative creation of Limestone's Pride Quilt Initiative!
This quilt will be carried by Limestone staff, students, and families in both Napanee Pride & Kingston Pride Parades, and will continue to be shared in a traveling exhibit, over the summer.
The purpose of this creation was to provide members of the LDSB community the opportunity to use visual arts as a medium to express what PRIDE means to them.
The squares have been sewn together (by local quilter Ruth LeBlanc) to create an art piece that unites us all, illustrating both the beauty of individuality, as well as the inclusivity message that everyone should see themselves in Limestone.
Photo Credit: Trustee Elliott
Liquid Lead Virtual Performance
A fantastic virtual presentation for GSAs and Equity-Related Clubs, as well as Arts-Based, Gender Studies classes!
As professional dancers and educators with a combined 50+ years, the members of Liquid Leading became concerned with the way partner dancing was perpetuating gender and cultural stereotypes rooted in antiquated paradigms. After experimenting with different roles on the dance floor to develop their personal dancing, they took to the TED stage in 2015 to share Liquid Lead Dancing, a reimagined system of partner dancing that removes gender from the equation. The talk has reached over 750,000 sets of eyes and they have conducted 30+ workshops at National and International events.
Grades: 7-12
Wednesday. June 14th @ 11am
Thursday, June 15th @ 11am
Register Here: https://forms.gle/o5gAWsicD2PWCAju9
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Napanee: Saturday, June 3rd | Come Join Us! | Kingston: Saturday, June 17th |
Napanee: Saturday, June 3rd
Come Join Us!
Kingston: Saturday, June 17th
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
Did You Know...
What does 2SLGBTQ+ stand for?
2SLGBTQ+ is an acronym that stands for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and additional sexual orientations and gender identities.
Kids Help Phone shares information about sexual orientations, gender identities and commonly used terms. Any and all combinations of sexual orientations and gender identities are possible and unique to each individual.
Why are we shifting to inclusive langauge in all spaces?
"Everyday language is often unnecessarily gendered. By shifting towards inclusive language, we can contribute to a more affirming environment that respects the gender identities of all people.
Pronouns and names are not the only parts of language marked by gender. Always be mindful of your assumptions and consider gender-neutral ways of communicating the same phrases. These tips are especially important in instances where you are referring to a general audience or don’t know the gender of the people you are speaking to." - Egale
Egale has amazing resources including affirming language tips and pronoun usage guides. These are available in both French and English.
ELEMENTARY RESOURCES
Welcoming Schools has tips on addressing frequently asked questions in an ELEMENTARY SETTING
ETFO continues to provide groundbreaking work in the area of 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion in Ontario classrooms. ETFO members have curated a bank of resources and websites that can be reference to address 2SLGBTQ+ Education.
Here is a slide deck from a recent Talk Tuesday: Cultivating Inclusive Spaces and LDSB Pride
Inclusive SECONDARY Strategies:
EGALE:
https://egale.ca/awareness/still-in-every-class/
Still In Every Class In Every School - Egale
Over 10 years ago we released Every Class in Every School about discrimination for 2SLGBTQI students in Canadian secondary schools at the time. Our 2021 report, Still in Every Class in Every School, reveals that while there have been some important improvements in the last decade, we have a long way to go in creating safer and accepting schools for 2SLGBTQI students.
egale.ca
https://egale.ca/awareness/adults-supporting-2slgbtqi-youth/
Adults Supporting 2SLGBTQI Youth - Egale
Every supportive adult can be a vital resource when supporting Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, and Intersex (2SLGBTQI) youth. Taking on the active role of an affirming adult can be vitally important compared to other lukewarm tolerances 2SLGBTQI youth may encounter. Healthy and affirming conditions must be fostered actively, and in doing so,...
egale.ca
https://egale.ca/awareness/affirming-and-inclusive-language/
Affirming and Inclusive Language - Egale
By shifting this to inclusive language, we can contribute to a more affirming environment that respects the gender identities of all people.
egale.ca
LDSB K-12 RESOURCE SELECTION TOOL
"As educators, we should provide both windows and mirrors in our curriculum, ensuring that our book selection represents a diverse array of people and identities. This also means that we must represent the intersectionality that exists in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, sharing stories of different genders, ethnicities, races, religions, and classes."
Quote from: https://www.edutopia.org/article/supporting-lgbtq-students-elementary-school
