Surrey Schools stands against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia with pride
One of the posters designed by Fraser Heights student Sophia G.
Today (May 17), the district is recognizing the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), a global campaign aimed at raising awareness around the ongoing discrimination and violence experienced by the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Officially established in 2004, the campaign’s roots date back to May 17, 1990, when the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases. The annual observance originated as the International Day Against Homophobia and later added transphobia to its name in 2009 and biphobia in 2015.
“The goal is to encourage everyone to promote equality, celebrate diversity, advocate for the rights of queer people – particularly those who also belong to other marginalized groups – and create a platform for 2SLGBTQ+ people to share their stories and experiences,” said inclusive practices helping teacher Nicole Curtis. “We want to foster a sense of community and solidarity among queer people and their allies around the world.”
Curtis said acknowledgment of the day is relatively new to the district. Though there has always been a focus on anti-bullying in schools, she said it’s important to be specific in defining what inclusivity means. She noted violence against 2SLGBTQ+ people can take physical and emotional forms, which can be especially damaging when tied to sexual orientation and gender identity.
“The impact of experiencing discrimination – of being different or isolated or othered or marginalized – takes a toll on your mental health,” she said. “The term phobia is interesting, thinking about what fear is posed there, and then understanding that to be transgender, or bisexual, or homosexual really has no relationship to the fears that society holds around it.
“It’s important to know that people who belong in those communities don’t pose a threat to you just by being themselves.”
To recognize IDAHOBIT in schools, a set of posters designed last year by Fraser Heights Secondary student Sophia G. will be displayed at every school in the district.
For Pride Month in June, the district will also be showcasing posters celebrating inclusivity from the fourth annual district Pride Poster Contest. Based on the theme Stand Up, Speak Up, which encourages students to have a voice that’s centred on compassion, the competition received nearly 100 entries from elementary and secondary students.
“George Greenaway sent a batch that was very intersectional, centring on inclusion across religion, Black identities and Black Lives Matter, and thinking about justice,” said Curtis. “All the students have some amazing skills, and seeing the complexity and depth of thought and care is always enlightening, empowering and affirming.
“We are an inclusive district and it is very clear through the student work that inclusivity is something that has been taken up by the teachers and students. That’s what they want to see in their schools: inclusion and care for everybody.”
Congratulations to all of our Pride Poster Contest winners and runners up! View all the winners and runners up below!
