School District 57 Revamps LGBTQ Policy

Jan 31, 2018 | 2:45 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – School District 57 has revised its old LGBTQ policy and changed the name to the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Policy, or SOGI. The new policy adds language to include transgender and gender non-conforming students. The goal is to make school environments safe, inclusive, and supportive of all students. One of the requirements of the policy is for all schools in the district to have gender-neutral bathrooms and change rooms. “The reason we’ve made our washrooms more accessible is not just for LGBTQ students, all students have a right to privacy and all students have a right to confidentiality,” said Inclusivity Resource Teacher, Sue Trabant.

The district also ensures teachers get the professional development they need to support their students. “We recognize that some of our students are on a journey of self-discovery, we want to ensure that our staff are trained and able to support our students,” said Board of Education chair, Tim Bennett.