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Letter: Give SOGI a chance: Richmond trustee

Dear Editor, Last Wednesday night (June 27), the Richmond Board of Education voted in favour of implementing the long awaited Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) policy.
SOGI protest
A large protested against the policy took place outside of Burnett secondary led by Vancouver advocates with a slogan “Stop oppressive gender indoctrination.” Photo submitted

Dear Editor,

Last Wednesday night (June 27), the Richmond Board of Education voted in favour of implementing the long awaited Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) policy.

I would like to thank Trustee Sandra Nixon for being the driving force behind this policy. District staff/management and our community stakeholders are also to be commended for their invaluable contributions. But most of all, I would like to thank those students who had the courage to come to the meeting and speak out on behalf of themselves and their peers.

Given the emotional and at times hostile atmosphere, it had to be a very intimidating experience for them. Yet these students kept their composure. They were polite and well spoken, while still being respectful to those who did not share their views.

I am most pleased that a majority of the trustees voted against the amendment to delay the vote til September. To expect the students to come back and do this all over again would have been unfair, insensitive and heartless.

To those parents who were not in favour of the policy — please give it a chance. You made your points very clear as to your concerns and fears about the new policy — and the Board of Education has heard you. Rest assured, this policy will be closely scrutinized by everyone. If the policy is flawed and/or creates safety concerns, the problems will be addressed. But these students shouldn’t have to wait any longer, while the adults try to draft the “perfect policy” (does one even exist?) or grasp the basic concepts of it.

With the exception of one or two districts, we are already a couple of years behind the other school districts in the province, in implementing a SOGI policy. We need to get started now.

Trustee Ken Hamaguchi

RICHMOND