Two local pastors shared their concerns at the New Westminster's board of education meeting Tuesday night on an inclusion policy that trustees say makes schools safer for LGBT students.
Grant Hill, an associate pastor at Olivet Baptist Church, and Paul Dirks, pastor at New Westminster Community Church, urged the school board to re-think the policy, though their attempts had little impact as trustees passed it unanimously.
"Laws and human rights drive policy," school board vice-chair Casey Cook said at Tuesday's board meeting, where trustees heard from those who supported the policy and those who opposed it. "I'm going to say up front, I am going to support this, and I say that proudly."
For pastor Hill, who is a father of two, the inclusion policy takes a side.
"And what truly bothers me, is that it does not need to take a side in order to become a helpful policy," he told the board.
His main role as a pastor at Olivet Baptist is to care for children and youth, Hill said.
"One of the things the students I work with struggle with is the fear of letting people at school know that they are Christians," he said.
Those students fear being labeled a homophobe if they say that they believe homosexual relationships are wrong, he said.
"Students have the right to disagree in a respectful manner without being labeled with insulting terms designed to belittle them," Hill said.
Dirks, a father of five, noted the high level of suicide amongst lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual youth, noting a B.C. study by Diane Saewyc that found suicide rates for bisexual and gay boys was 23.4 per cent compared to 2.5 per cent for heterosexual boys; for lesbian and bisexual girls in the same year it was 26.5 per cent compared to 4.9 per cent for heterosexual girls.
"I have significant concerns with this policy in that it will not address these risks, and may in fact increase the risks among current LGBT students and the broader student population," Dirks said.
He also cited a study that suggests 83 per cent of LBGT youth, "as defined by same-sex behavior, became exclusively heterosexual in their behaviour within six years."
"It is exceedingly important that we do not put in place policies that could affirm or encourage a sexual or gender identity at this fragile age that carries with it such highly elevated risks," Dirks said, while calling for a "broad-based" policy that also addresses sexism, catcalling and objectification of girls, improving the inclusion of the physically handicapped and physical bullying among boys.
"Do not base your decision or policy merely on anecdotal evidence," he told trustees.
New West Pride Society members spoke in favour of the policy, which society president Jeremy Perry provided input on. He told the board that two thirds of LBGT youth feel unsafe in New Westminster schools, one in five are physically harassed, and many feel depressed and suicidal.
"It's policies like this that can help turn that around," Perry said.
New Westminster Teachers' Union president Grant Osborne told the board that teachers in the city overwhelmingly support the inclusion policy and noted the important work of ensuring all students are safe.
Chair Jonina Campbell, who originally called for the policy (she wanted one with more "teeth" to replace the previous one) said she was "proud" of the respectful tone of the discussion from those who spoke for and against the policy.
Trustee Kelly Slade-Kerr said the district has an obligation under human rights laws to provide an inclusive, supportive environment.
"When we are aware that we have schools where two-thirds of our students don't feel safe, we are obliged to fix that," she said.
While two people spoke against the policy, there has been little of the outrage that erupted when Vancouver and Burnaby school districts introduced similar policies.
The policy includes the creation of a standing committee to explore and make recommendations regarding sexual orientations and gender identities. The board nominated trustee MaryAnn Mortensen to chair the committee.
