Westsyde students advocate for LGBTQ equality

“It has tips for teachers to be more supportive, how to talk to people in power and advocate for your right to be supported in your school environment,” said Stodola.

“The goal for this guide is to have it in the hands of every single teacher all across Canada by the end of the school year,” said Reed.

Here in the Kamloops-Thompson School District, teachers are asked to recognize that each student comes with a unique lived experience.

“Both of us were part of making sure that inclusion was really emphasized — inclusion of the whole person walking in and all of the identities that they bring along with them,” said Stodola.

“Being a young queer teen in high school has really influenced how I learn and how I interact with the world and how I interact with people.”

Vessy Mochikas is SD73’s assistant superintendent for inclusive education.

“SD73 should be proud — and I know I’m very proud — of the two students from Westsyde and their teammates as part of their GSA, as well as the other GSAs in the Kamloops-Thompson School District,” said Mochikas.

She said students give honest feedback about diversity and inclusion.

“We have students at school levels that meet regularly once a week coming up with ways to make their school more inclusive so that all students can see themselves represented in the curriculum.”

Reed and Stodola would like to see more representation in the classroom — not just in books and movies.

“It could even be as simple [as in a] math problem. Like, ‘Jim and his boyfriend went to the store and Jim bought four watermelons,’ or whatever,” said Stodola.

“Just casual representation so that it’s a known thing and accepted thing and not a big deal that LGBTQ people exist, ’cause we do.”

The two students inspire other LGBTQ kids to embrace their identities.

“Believe in yourself, because you are living the life you are meant to live,” said Reed.

“The more you hide yourself away, the more you’re gonna regret it later on in life — so live your life to the fullest you can, and just give yourself hope.”

by Stephanie Swensrude

Westsyde students advocate for LGBTQ equality

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