LGBT supporters pack Dauphin school board meeting

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/11/2023 (713 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

More than 25 people were out in the cold in Dauphin Monday night in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community after being denied entry to the Mountain View School Division board meeting. The MVSD board also heard two impassioned presentations in response to a Nov. 13 delegation that pushed for book bans, a pronoun policy, and more parental rights.

“I couldn’t get in by the time I called — the gallery was already full,” said Cheryl Dando, who joined fellow community members, teachers, students and parents in support of 2SLGBTQIA+ students outside the MVSD building.

“I asked that they move it to a bigger venue. I even emailed the minister of education to see if we could get it moved to a bigger venue. But we couldn’t do that,” Dando said.

“I think I was better off being outside. My whole purpose for going was to show the students that they have support.”

And support they had. The gallery at the meeting was at capacity at 40 people. Gabe Mercier, chairperson of the MVSD board, noted the gallery was fuller than usual for a regular board meeting.

Desiree Dorion, a Dauphin-based lawyer and parent, and Chance Henderson, president of the Mountain View Teachers’ Association, made their presentations to the MVSD board in response to a previous delegation made by Dauphin grandmother Lorlie Engbrecht.

Engbrecht raised many controversial topics during her address to the board earlier this month, which in turn caused a strong reaction from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Dauphin.

Dorion presented a list of provisions from the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, the Human Rights Code of Manitoba, The Public Schools Act and the UN Convention on the Right of the Child.

“Children’s rights are there and can only be trumped if there is a safety issue. The right of a child to have their gender and sexual identity respected is not trumped by a parent’s right to know,” said Dorion.

Henderson expressed concern and evidence about the impact recent conversations at the MVSD board meetings can have on Dauphin students.

“What is most unsettling is our children are witness to this unfolding narrative. This subject strikes a chord close to everyone’s heart. Recognizing this, it is crucial that we create space for relationships and understanding. We must set an example for all our children, demonstrating our collective care for their well-being,” Henderson said to the board.

Both Dorion and Henderson pointed to the mission statement of the MVSD, which is posted on the boardroom wall: “to provide an inspiring, respectful and safe learning environment where every student is valued, nurtured and enabled to realize their full potential.”

“It doesn’t say where heterosexual students will be valued. It says where every student will be valued,” Dorion pointed out.

In response to Engbrecht’s request to remove 2SLGBTQIA+ books from school libraries, she explained to the trustees the importance of children finding representation in media (such as books). “A lack of representation makes you question if you belong or are worthy of that space. Seeing someone in media that looks like you, tells you that you deserve to be there, that you belong … Belonging and love are the two essential things human beings need for development.”

“This (mission) statement is my belief that it shares our reflected desire for every child to feel safe, valued, respected, and a sense of belonging when they are in our schools,” Henderson added. “As educators, our core beliefs and professional practices prioritize the health and the well-being of the child. If a child does not feel safe, valued or respected, they may feel excluded and marginalized. Feelings of isolation and exclusion can adversely affect mental health.”

Under school board policy for delegations, trustees listen and ask questions then may discuss what the delegations presented at the next meeting.

» khenderson@brandonsun.com