Trustee Sandra Nixon promises a new policy on sexual orientation and sexual identity for the Richmond School District will be “comprehensive and actionable” by the time it is completed in late June.
Otherwise referred to by the acronym SOGI, the policy has been delayed nearly a full school year to ensure all stakeholders, including students, staff and parents, are included in the policy working group, said Nixon.
“We are aiming to have the policy finalized by the end of June,” said Nixon.
“The policy will be comprehensive and actionable, offering strong support for an inclusive environment in our schools.”
In mid-February Nixon tabled a timeline noting a draft will be finalized March 12 with public consultation running April to June. Alterations would be considered in June and voted on by June 27, the last board meeting of the school year.
It was last spring that the Board of Education passed a motion to form a working group on a SOGI policy. It was seen as a de facto acceptance that a policy was needed.
Students from the Steveston-London secondary Rainbow Club asked the board to create a policy, not unlike the ones that already exist in the vast majority of school districts in B.C.
Parents are, however, split on the policy concept, aimed at educating students and staff about such issues.
Parents Concern Group opposed a policy, claiming it could promote gender dysphoria or even increase the number of gay students in the district.
Parents Concern Group organizer Colleen Howu has argued in the past that sexual and gender minority students do not require special attention and everyone should be treated equally. The Richmond Parents Advisory Council does, however, support a policy, according to its president Dionne McFie.
Nixon has stated in the past a policy is needed to protect such minority students from harassment and misunderstanding.
Teachers also showed support for a policy, not just for students, but for themselves.
Health officials are also on board to mitigate the health risks faced by transgender and homosexual students
Last year, at the request of the BC Liberal government, the district altered its code of conduct to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected rights within the district.
