What is SOGI in schools?

“For some students and families SOGI is a window, and for others, it is a mirror.”

“What is SOGI in schools? It looks like inclusion. We are not trying to change anyone but are making room for everyone.”

This is how Sexual Orientation Gender Identity (SOGI) District Lead Amy Witt describes SOGI in schools to trustees at the School District No. 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap) Board of Education meeting on Tuesday at A.L. Fortune Secondary school. “It is not a distinct curriculum, but rather an inclusion lens for all subjects.” She adds that SOGI-inclusive education is about students having age-appropriate conversations about the SOGI diversity in society and the importance of treating everyone with respect. She notes SOGI-inclusive education simply means speaking about SOGI in a way that ensures every student feels like they belong.

“It’s about making room under the big beautiful roof of schools so everyone is included.”

She notes there is lots of misunderstanding. “We’re not trying to make kids or families something they are not. We are just trying to make room so that all feel included at school.”

She said the SOGI curriculum at primary might just include some books where families in the stories are not just a mom, dad and child. They might include two moms, two dads, a disabled parent or a single parent. She said this not only helps the child who sees their family in the story but also the child who possibly has lost a parent. “We want to make sure that every kid sees themselves reflected respectively in the resources we use.”

“We are trying to get to acceptance. It is cool to be yourself.”

“Schools are a place where everyone can belong.”

Witt explains the history, including:

• 1996 – The Canadian Human Rights Act was amended to specifically include sexual orientation as one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination
• 2005 – Gay marriage legalized across Canada
• 2016 – BC Human Rights Code adds gender identity and expression to protected status
• 2018 – The Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre (SARAVYC from the University of BC) study releases stats and a call for action

The study was staggering explained Witt as it showed how poorly some of the vulnerable students were doing in BC schools. “The statistics speak to how important it is for all of our students to have a safe affirming place. Schools can carve out that safe place. They can play a major role in saving lives and improving outcomes for marginalized students and staff.”

Witt also explained that over the years, scientific understanding has greatly impacted our knowledge of intersex. Unlike the science lessons of earlier years, we now understand that there is more complexity and variation than XX and XY chromosomes.  Worldwide, people with an intersex condition are as common as people with red hair, which is equivalent to twice the estimated population of Canada.

She noted SOGI inclusive education implementation in SD83 means there is a board policy, district lead position, school lead training, development of SD83 SOGI guidelines, CEA education, bus driver education, clerical education, principals and vice-principals education, and trustee education. Direct student support includes Gender Sexuality Alliances (GSA) and diversity clubs, itinerant and school-based counsellor support, visible signs of classroom and school welcome and safety, accessible single stall washrooms, and “all gender” staff washrooms.