Revelstoke recognized for acceptance of sexual orientation

Note: Following the horrific hate crime in Orlando, Florida, we’ve moved up publication of a story we were working on highlighting the positive work the Revelstoke School District is doing on LGBTQ policy.

With news coming out of Orlando, Florida, of a horrific shooting at a gay nightclub, the outpouring of support for the LGBTQ community has been strong.

Blood banks in the south-eastern American state are at capacity as many flock to help out, while members of the gay community are banned from donating. In December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration relaxed a lifetime ban that had forbid gay and bisexual men from donating blood. This rule stemmed from the early days of the AIDS epidemic. The ban now stands for men who have had sex with another man in the previous year.

The shooter responsible for the massacre, from which authorities have said 50 were killed, and news reports have stated he showed support for ISIS. It is not yet clear if a hate crime was also part of his motive, but the need to send a message to youth and society, for acceptance of all orientations, is the continual focus for school and community organizations.

Revelstoke school district recognized for leadership on LGBTQ policy

Online gay and lesbian news website Daily Xtra recently acknowledged the Revelstoke school district for leading the way with this goal in their story “How one BC school district made its LGBTQ policy more visible“.

“The Revelstoke Board of Education will not tolerate homophobic or discriminatory behaviour or bullying towards members of the LGBTQ community,” reads the first line of the new plaque now posted in all Revelstoke schools. Photo: Mike Hooker

Nearly a year after passing its anti-homophobia policy, in May, Revelstoke schools posted a plaque with the policy and a rainbow flag at the entrance to all four schools (Arrow Heights Elementary, Begbie View Elementary, Columbia Park Elementary and Revelstoke Secondary.)

School district 19’s superintendent Mike Hooker said the policy and plaque has added another layer of support for Revelstoke students.

“I think school districts are looking for creative ways to help move beyond the notion of tolerance of individual differences to understanding, acknowledging and embracing individual differences,” he said.

Seeing the plaque displayed at the school sends a message and Hooker said from student reports, it has had a positive effect.

“Students want to know they are in a safe place at school,” he said. “There is a fairly wide understanding we needed to have a coming out of our acceptance and understanding of an area (sexual orientation and gender identity) that many people know very little about.”