Students Protest Catholic School’s Decision to Remove Rainbow Flag
Controversy over LGBT issues in one of Canada’s Catholic school systems has once again made headlines, resulting in unfortunate harm during Pride celebrations.
To mark Pride, students at Blessed Oscar Romero High School in Edmonton, Alberta, hung a rainbow flag in the school with some additional rainbow decorations. The next day, students drew a rainbow flag in chalk at the school’s entrance. CBC reported what happened next:
“On Tuesday morning, student president-elect Francis Nievera was called into the principal’s office. He said he was told all the decorations must come down because the chalk was being tracked inside, which he said was understandable. But those weren’t the only reasons.
“‘They said putting up flags was a political statement and it made some people uncomfortable and we need to make everyone feel comfortable,’ said Nievera, an openly transsexual and transgender Grade 10 student. ‘To have it all torn down in less than a day kind of sucked.'”
Lori Nagy of the Edmonton Catholic School Board denied claims the decorations were authorized, and said the school’s principal was willing to support other pride celebrations. Nonetheless, Nievera’s invitation, students protested, according to the CBC:
“Prior to the protest, a video shows an emotional Nievera, near a handful of supporters including the school mascot, address students from the stage in the school cafeteria.
“‘We have to take down all the decorations today,’ he said, setting off boos from the crowd. ‘But I just want to say because of this I really don’t feel safe.'”
“‘If you guys want to help support pride week, even though all of this will be taken down, feel free to come outside and protest.'”
Students gathered at the chalk rainbow flag as other students used power washers to remove it. According to the CBC, “More than 30 students refused to return to class.”
Kennedy Harper, who helped organize the school’s Pride celebrations, said administrators threatened protesting students with suspension. She commented further:
“‘It seems like along with the chalk they were just washing away their identity. . .It felt really good for a little while, seeing the school really come together and standing up for the rights of minorities whether they’re part of the LGBTQ community or not.'”
Shortly after all the decorations had been removed , school administrators then said that the flags would be allowed for the remainder of the week.
This is hardly the first time Edmonton’s Catholic school system has been roiled in LGBT-related controversies. A student at the neighboring St. Joseph Catholic High School was also asked to remove a rainbow flag he wore during a school ceremony. The Edmonton Catholic School Board’s actions in 2015 around a transgender policy saw meetings erupt into a “shouting match” as the Board approved a draft policy allowing “just discrimination” of some youth. Elsewhere in Alberta, a former bishop referred to LGBTQ policies being implemented in Catholic schools “totalitarian” and “anti-Catholic.”
The situation at Blessed Oscar Romero adds to this list of avoidable, damaging incidents where LGBTQ students are made to feel less than comfortable and even unsafe in Catholic education. No harm was caused by allowing some minor Pride decorations to be displayed, but much harm was done by power washing them and ripping them away.
Once again, it is young students in Catholic schools who are the ones leading our church to be more just and inclusive for LGBT people. And of these students’ commitment to justice for all people, Monseñor Romero would likely be very proud.
—Robert Shine, New Ways Ministry, June 19, 2017
If as the student said “‘They said putting up flags was a political statement and it made some people uncomfortable and we need to make everyone feel comfortable,’, then the rainbow symbols should have been left up so the LGBT students could be comfortable at least one week a year. Christ said He didn’t come to make us comfortable, but to save us and make us free. The students seem to understand logic, but the principal not so much.
We need to calm down It was appropriate to wash the chalk away and take down the flag.School is not the place for political statements that are in your face. For the record I am gay and a Catholic priest
“In Your Face”
With all due respect, you are endorsing the model of the open door closet. The door is open but you may not come out. The Catholic LGBT community understands that this dated guiding principal is fruitless. Yes, we do need to be “in your face;” but in a non-confrontational comportment—in the mode of conciliation.
Regardless, I do believe you are correct in saying that the slant with which the students set about this concern was a political statement. The students acted in a unilateral approach not in conversation with the administrators of the high school.
The end result was inappropriate responses by both sides.
I hope the students never stop speaking up for justice. STRAIGHT STUDENTS: you must demand justice for your LGBTQ brothers and sisters.