Image Credit: Contributed

By James Peters

Posters Destroyed

Posters promoting LGBTQ+ event at Valleyview Secondary destroyed; students call for stronger action

Nov 26, 2021 | 6:21 AM

KAMLOOPS — A group of Valleyview Secondary students is calling for stronger action after posters advertising an LGBTQ+ event last week were destroyed on school grounds.

Valleyview’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) had organized a vigil on Friday, November 19 to commemorate victims of transphobic violence. The vigil was to be held in conjunction with Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), recognized annually on November 20.

Two days before the vigil, another group of students removed posters promoting the event, setting them on fire on school grounds. Videos of the burning posters were posted to social media.

A concerned LGBTQ+ student at Valleyview informed CFJC Today of the incident. CFJC Today has agreed not to disclose the student’s identity.

The student says those who destroyed the posters may have mistakenly believed the event was meant to single out transgender military veterans for recognition. The student said, “this is absolutely no excuse for such a heinous action.”

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Valleyview administration conducted an investigation into the incident, but the student says they believe administration is trying to “sweep this event under the rug.”

The GSA and LGBTQ+ students responded to the incident by holding a silent walk through the school’s halls Friday, followed by speeches about the significance of TDOR.

The student who contacted CFJC Today is concerned the incident is being downplayed.

“The offending students returned to school already, with apparently no punishment, no remorse and no regret,” they said. “We students are concerned for our safety as members of the LGBTQ+ community, and the school will not do anything or even address this.”

Contacted by CFJC Today, the Kamloops-Thompson School District said it supports TDOR.

“Unfortunately, an incident occurred with respect to posters that were promoting the event,” the district said in an emailed statement. “Our school and district administration are working directly with the individuals involved and due to privacy laws, we are not at liberty to disclose identities and details related to the incident.

“Our main priority is that all students feel safe and are accepted for who they are. While we cannot speak of the specific details of who was involved and what the outcome of the investigation is, incidents like this impact our entire community and we take them very seriously.”