CVDCS hosts Dare to Stand Out Conference

Rainbow District School Board will host its seventh symposium aimed at creating and enhancing school-based supports for students who are lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and questioning (LGTBQ) as well as students with friends and family members in these communities on Friday, March 4, 2016. The Dare to Stand Out Conference, being presented in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, will take place at Chelmsford Valley District Composite School.

The event will begin at 9 am with a keynote address by Charlie Forbes, a Grade 11 student at Glebe Collegiate in Ottawa. Charlie will focus on his journey as a queer non-binary transgendered man in high school, who was faced with various forms of oppression. He will discuss his personal experiences with homophobia, transphobia, the stigma of mental illness, and his struggle dealing with the impact of discrimination. He will also speak about the importance of emotions, empowerment, gender and sexual diversity, allyship and identity politics.

Following the keynote, students will participate in a variety of dynamic and engaging activities and workshops about the process of coming out, coping with bullies, how to protect yourself on the Internet, healthy relationships and consent, how to challenge homophobic language, and two-spirited people.

At 2:15 pm, Jessica Azevedo, a feminism activist with the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, will present “<3 YOURSELF: LGBTQ+ Self Love and Care,” a workshop on the pressures of today’s youth to be ‘cool’ and ‘sexy’ in a world dominated by social media, #hashtags and selfies. Throughout the workshop, she will talk about the impact of social media on self-worth, self-love, self-care and self-esteem. The event will culminate with a Gay-Straight Alliance High School Dinner and Dance from 3:30 pm to 8 pm.

School leaders, including members of Athletic Councils, School Councils, and Gay Straight Alliances from Rainbow secondary schools, will participate in the conference along with Grade 7 and 8 student representatives.

“The purpose of the conference is to enable students to address issues surrounding homophobia and transphobia in their schools and communities, and to brainstorm ways to create safer schools,” said Superintendent Lesleigh Dye. “Once again, participants will walk away with tools and resources they can use for the benefit of all students in their schools.”

Superintendent Dye praised the organizing committee for their efforts under the leadership of Vice-Principal Patrick Hopkin, including Principal Kristina Rivard Gobbo and teachers Kari Gerhard, Sandy MacEwan, Calvin Makela and Jayson Stewart.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.