clubs – Page 26 – The Yorkie

On Wednesday, December 4th, York House School’s Gay-Straight Alliance was joined by GSA members from Crofton House School and Collingwood to welcome Michelle and Tracey Wilson as guest speakers at YHS.

Ten year old Tracey was born a boy with the name “Trey”, but self-identified early on as a girl. Together with her mom, Michelle, Tracey opened up to her audience at YHS about being transgender and about their family’s personal experiences in learning about Tracey and supporting her through her ongoing transition into becoming a girl.

GSA Social: Discussing transgender issues with Michelle and Tracey Wilson

Michelle documents their family’s journey on her blog, Truly Tracey where she also offers resources for other parents, kids, and family members interested in learning more about trans-health and support.

Many transgender people face discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression. Michelle described how she and her husband, Garfield have been careful to develop a positive community around Tracey, whilst also speaking out as a family for transgender rights within British Columbia.

It was evident in hearing Tracey speak that her experiences have already left her wise beyond her years and that the process of freely embracing her individual gender identity has her expressing newfound confidence. To the GSAs, Tracey offered a take-away message, that “when you do not accept yourself, you are being your own bully. You must love and accept who you are”.

To learn more about transgender issues, click here. To watch Tracey and her family featured on Global News’ 16X9, click here.

Alannah
Grade 11

During the week of October 20th students and staff celebrated being allies of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) community, during GLSEN’s Ally Week.

We in the YHS GSA believe that ANYONE can be an ally–gay, straight, and everyone in-between! Students and adults can be allies as well. Basically, an ally is anyone who supports and stands up for the LGBTQ community.

On Monday, to celebrate diversity and the beginning of Ally Week, students and staff sported rainbow and tie-dye clothing, including colorful t-shirts, rainbow flags and bright knee-high socks. On Tuesday morning, members of the GSA met to decorate the school and further display Yorkie spirit with balloons, ribbons, posters and signs. Decorations went up all around the Junior and Senior buildings, featuring the handcrafted GSA Take What You Need and Proud to be an Ally posters.

Over the next couple of days, the Ally Pledge was set up in the cafeteria where people could sign the pledge and collect rainbow ribbons and stickers. Signatures filled over seven pages, pledging not to use anti-LGBT language and slurs, to intervene if possible to stop bullying and harassment and to support safer schools efforts.

Wednesday’s assembly featured a GSA presentation, showing two Out in Schools student-made videos (Be the One Who Helps and And That’s Remarkable) and talking about the importance of allies in addition to having one’s own personal strength.

Ally Week at YHS concluded on Thursday with a short film at lunch, featuring: “I Don’t Want to Go Back Alone“. The film was made in Brazil, and won the 2011 Iris Prize – the biggest LGBTQ short film award in the world. Discussions about the film are to be continued at the next GSA meeting on Monday, November 4th, at lunch.

Ally Week also introduced the new GSA email – [email protected]. This email can be used to ask questions or to make suggestions. All emails go to Ms. Hoang and Ms. Boteju and will sometimes be shared (anonymously) with the GSA if the topic is something to discuss as a group. Questions and suggestions can be sent in anonymously by creating a fake email address.

Read further to find out more about how anyone can be a better ally against anti-LGBT language, bullying and harassment in [Canada’s] schools. —GLSEN Website

Allanah
Grade 11

Tag: clubs

GSA Social: Discussing Gender Identity

Ally Week at YHS