Is it the end of the rainbow in Catholic schools?
Rainbows — both in images and words — are being discouraged in some Catholic schools because they are seen as too politically charged for the anti-homophobia clubs that want to use them.
One Mississauga school told students not to put up a rainbow flag at a recent anti-homophobia event, so the students at St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School baked rainbows into their cupcakes instead.
“I thought it was unfair,” said student organizer Leanne Iskander of not being allowed to display the rainbow flag or other such signs.
“Rainbows can represent anything — you can't just ban rainbows.”
Rainbows — first billed as an Old Testament sign of God’s promise to Noah, then a tag for a 1980s American political coalition and also used by Nelson Mandela to describe the South African nation — are now used often to signify a gay-friendly stance.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic board says the rainbow flag wasn’t banned outright, but that a bookmark designed in the school was preferred, with coloured stripes that referred to events for the entire social justice week, not just the Friday anti-homophobia day.
The rainbow ruckus is the latest example of the tension facing Catholic schools directed by Queen’s Park to help schools fight homophobia while seeking to uphold the Vatican’s stand against gay sex.
Iskander helped found a gay-straight alliance at St. Joseph’s before being told such a group wasn’t allowed, even though they are common in the province’s public high schools.
Initially, Ontario’s Catholic bishops and school trustees banned the alliances and called instead for broader “equity” clubs. While alliances are still not allowed, student lobbying prompted the go-ahead for clubs that focus solely on homophobia.
At St. Joseph’s, the club is called “Open Arms,” which board spokesperson Bruce Campbell said is encouraged.
“(The) rainbow is associated with the (gay) pride movement, and we certainly are looking for something as inclusionary as possible,” he said. “Open Arms, that type of reference is more preferable in our board.”
Iskander said her club was instructed not to donate the $200 raised from the cupcakes to a gay-related charity.
Full Article
Source: Toronto Star
Rainbows — both in images and words — are being discouraged in some Catholic schools because they are seen as too politically charged for the anti-homophobia clubs that want to use them.
One Mississauga school told students not to put up a rainbow flag at a recent anti-homophobia event, so the students at St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School baked rainbows into their cupcakes instead.
“I thought it was unfair,” said student organizer Leanne Iskander of not being allowed to display the rainbow flag or other such signs.
“Rainbows can represent anything — you can't just ban rainbows.”
Rainbows — first billed as an Old Testament sign of God’s promise to Noah, then a tag for a 1980s American political coalition and also used by Nelson Mandela to describe the South African nation — are now used often to signify a gay-friendly stance.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic board says the rainbow flag wasn’t banned outright, but that a bookmark designed in the school was preferred, with coloured stripes that referred to events for the entire social justice week, not just the Friday anti-homophobia day.
The rainbow ruckus is the latest example of the tension facing Catholic schools directed by Queen’s Park to help schools fight homophobia while seeking to uphold the Vatican’s stand against gay sex.
Iskander helped found a gay-straight alliance at St. Joseph’s before being told such a group wasn’t allowed, even though they are common in the province’s public high schools.
Initially, Ontario’s Catholic bishops and school trustees banned the alliances and called instead for broader “equity” clubs. While alliances are still not allowed, student lobbying prompted the go-ahead for clubs that focus solely on homophobia.
At St. Joseph’s, the club is called “Open Arms,” which board spokesperson Bruce Campbell said is encouraged.
“(The) rainbow is associated with the (gay) pride movement, and we certainly are looking for something as inclusionary as possible,” he said. “Open Arms, that type of reference is more preferable in our board.”
Iskander said her club was instructed not to donate the $200 raised from the cupcakes to a gay-related charity.
Full Article
Source: Toronto Star
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