GUELPH – Because of COVID-19, the Upper Grand District School Board has put Gay Pride Month online this year, featuring an array of videos by prominent citizens who talk about their thoughts and experiences of Pride and being gay.
Most notably, perhaps, is Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury, who speaks frankly about some of the challenges he faced as a young gay man, and how he didn’t really come into his own until his 20s.
Also in the lineup are singer/songwriter Kate Reid, authors Jennifer Lavoi and Nathan Burgoine, and activists Jeremy Dias and Spencer Wright.
Each of the interview subjects is introduced by selected staff at Upper Grand, who also share a little of their own stories.
It’s great to have the videos there for anyone and everyone to see, said Jen Apgar, a member of Upper Grand’s equity steering committee and an organizer of Rainbow week. But it’s also bitter-sweet.
In a normal year, there would have been an event or two over the month, and perhaps a guest speaker – events that would allow students to gather face to face and meet each other.
“This had been a rich part of the events,” Apgar said in an interview, adding students in the LGBTQ community often feel out of place and it can be reassuring to know they are not alone.
“So it’s been hard this year not seeing each other face-to-face,” she said.
Between work-to-rule instructions from their union earlier in the school year and then COVID-19, Apgar said the organizing committee had to work swiftly to come up with something that would honour Pride Month and be relevant and meaningful and available to students who can’t physically come together this year.
Of this endeavour, Apgar is very proud.
They’ve created a website that’s accessible from the Upper Grand’s website, www.ugdsb.on.ca. As well as the featured interviews, there is a wide selection of student artwork.
“The videos are meant for everyone and the feedback has been positive,” Apgar said. “And the student art is fantastic. I’m glad students are still engaging in this work.”
She said while the Black Lives Matter movement has moved to the forefront in recent weeks, there is actually a lot of overlap with the Pride movement.
“Pride started from a riot against police, and People of Colour led that riot,” Apgar said. “We need to do better with this and how we deal with marginalized folks.
“It’s an interesting time in the world and it calls for great sensitivity.”
Tamara Nugent, director of education for the Wellington Catholic District School Board, said her board has a statement on its website about inclusion and diversity.
“This month, and every month, Wellington Catholic is committed to nurturing safe and inclusive learning environments where every student and every member of our community is welcomed, valued, and respected.”
