The Board of Education (the “Board”) is committed to establishing and maintaining a safe, inclusive, equitable, and welcoming learning and working environment for all members of the school community, regardless of real or perceived sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, which includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, Two-Spirit, queer, and those who are questioning (LGBTTQ+).  

 The Board will provide a safe environment, free from harassment and discrimination, while also promoting pro-active strategies and guidelines to ensure that lesbian, gay, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, bisexual and questioning students, employees and families are welcomed and included in all aspects of education and school life and treated with respect and dignity. The purpose of this policy is to define appropriate behaviours and actions in order to  prevent discrimination and harassment through greater awareness of and responsiveness to their deleterious effects.  This policy is also drafted to ensure that homophobic complaints are taken seriously and dealt with expeditiously and effectively through consistently applied policy and procedures.  The policy will also raise awareness and improve understanding of the lives of people who identify themselves on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  By valuing diversity and respecting differences, students and staff act in accordance with the Vancouver district’s social responsibility initiative. 

The Board believes that all LGBTTQ+ students, staff and families have the right to have:

• their confidentiality protected and respected;
• self-identification and determination; and
• their unique identities, families, cultures, and communities included, represented, valued, and respected within all aspects of the school environment.

The Board will promote pro-active strategies and guidelines so that all members of this diverse community are welcomed, respected, accepted and supported in every school and worksite.

The Board is committed to implementing measures that will:

• define appropriate expectations, language, behaviours and actions in order to prevent discrimination and harassment;
• ensure that complaints of discrimination or harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression are taken seriously and dealt with expeditiously and effectively through consistently applied policy and procedures;
• raise awareness and improve understanding of the lives of people who identify as LGBTTQ+; and
• strive to eliminate the systemic inequities and barriers for members of the school community whose real or perceived identity is LGBTTQ+ and demonstrate accountability in leadership so that everyone is treated with fairness and respect.

DMT Responsibility: AS-LS

 

 

Legal References: 

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; BC Human Rights Code; BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; BC School Act; BC Vital Statistic Act (pending)

Cross References: 

ACA: Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism; FB: Facilities Planning; GBAB: Employment Equity; GBCBA: Sexual Harassment; IGBA: Programs for Disabled Students; IIA: Instructional Materials; IIAE: Hate Crimes and Propaganda; JB: Equal Educational Opportunities; KLB: Public Complaints about the Curriculum/Instructional Materials

Adopted Date: 

Monday February 16, 2004

Revision Date: 

Jun 2014