A local 2SLGBTQ+ group is happy to see the rainbow flag flying at the Toronto Catholic District School Board.
Jason Veltri is the President of the Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay and says it’s a big step for Catholic schools after what he calls “disgusting” comments from the Halton Catholic District School Board, which recently voted against flying the flag at its schools.
“Now we’ve seen Waterloo Catholic, Wellington Catholic District School Board, and now the largest [publicly-funded] Catholic district school board in the world joining in acknowledging that Pride exists,” Veltri says, “And that we need to do better by our 2SLGBTQIA students and staff by moving the needle on inclusion within Catholic schools.”
Veltri wants this to serve as an example to Thunder Bay’s Catholic schools, which he feels haven’t made much progress since flying the pride flag for the first time in 2019.
“While we acknowledge the history-making move in 2019, we are two years down this conversation now, and it’s time that the Thunder Bay Catholic District School board announces publicly that they do or don’t support raising the flag at all schools,” he explains.
Veltri adds that this isn’t only about the Pride flag.
“It’s about ensuring that we continue the conversation and the work around education, and building more inclusive and positive school environments for those who don’t feel safe or don’t feel included within their school community,” he says.
