Sudbury students protest cancellation of anti-bullying event
There were protests Monday in response to a decision by the Rainbow District School Board to cancel an anti-bullying event that contained drag elements.
A student says the board told him it was too political and hypersexual.
Billboards and chants of ‘Classroom not a closet’ echo the hurt and anger amongst a group of students at Sudbury’s Lo-Ellen Secondary School.
Ra’Jah Mohamed said the school board decided to cancel the Courage Across Canada Tour for Anti-bullying Campaign International Day of Pink event at the last minute, despite the fact organizers followed proper procedures.
The presentation included elements of drag, which Mohamed said he believes led to the event’s cancellation.
“To call it hypersexual is one thing, calling it political is another thing,” Mohamed said.
“And then to not respond to our concerns and our voices in the petition that has over 2,700 signatures, it’s crazy and it’s completely, completely disingenuous.”
Now, the event will go ahead at College Boreal instead.
Mohamed said it’s the sound of silence from the school board that sends a message of its own to LGTBQ+ students.
“That their queer kids are not going to be listened to, they’re not going to be valued at rainbow district school board schools,” he said.
“That’s clear from how they’ve been treating this -- that’s how they’ve been treating us.”
Grade 10 student Lily Rose Lachance said she was infuriated by the school board’s decision.
“Every bit performative activism they try to shove in our faces as proof they’re progressive, while going around pulling stunts like this,” Lachance said.
“We will not back down. We exist. And that’s not stopping.”
There were protests Monday in response to a decision by the Rainbow District School Board to cancel an anti-bullying event that contained drag elements. (Amanda Hicks/CTV News)
Sudbury MPP Jaime West said the event was to allow people to feel seen.
“I think it’s important to recognize this was age-appropriate, this was educational, this wasn’t going to be a drag show, this was about people feeling represented,” West said.
The Rainbow board declined a request for an interview to comment on the protest, deferring to a statement it sent last week.
Students CTV News spoke with said they would like the school board to offer an apology to acknowledge the hurt they say they’ve caused.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.