More than a year in the making, a draft sexual orientation and gender identity policy has been completed by a special committee within Richmond's Board of Education.
Known by its acronym, SOGI, the draft comes as one part of the policy’s release schedule. Last Februray, the school board passed a motion to form a working group on a SOGI policy. Its implementation was been delayed for nearly a full school year, however, to ensure all stakeholders, including parents, students and teachers could be involved.
“The Richmond Board of Education values the diversity present within the Richmond School District. We believe that each individual should feel welcome and included as part of a safe, respectful and caring environment,” the draft policy says.
“We recognize the unique set of challenges experienced by our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Two Spirit, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ+) community and believe that it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every individual is treated with fairness, respect and dignity, and is included fully in the life of the community.”
The school board’s proposed policy also states that it’s their responsibility “to prepare young people to work and live in open, supportive and democratic societies that are free of discrimination or violence that is based on sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.”
Suggested measures to implement the policy include defining appropriate behaviour, ensuring complaints of harassment are taken seriously and raising awareness and understanding around sexual orientation and identity.
The policy has many specific points on how these measures will materialize including the right of every district member to be addressed by a name or pronoun that corresponds to their gender identity, without requiring official records. Additionally, it states that students have the right to access washrooms and changing facilities that correspond to their gender identity, regardless of legal sex. The draft policy also says that students have the right to participate in physical education and extracurricular activities in a way that respects and embraces their gender identity.
Following the school board’s practice on changing policies, school board trustee Sandra Nixon is giving notice on Wednesday that a recommendation will be presented at the board’s next meeting on April 11. The recommendation will be to distribute the draft policy to stakeholders for information and comments by June 4.
To read the full draft policy, view the Richmond Board of Education meeting agenda here.
