Chilliwack school trustees to vote on rainbow walkway

CHILLIWACK (NEWS 1130) — Just weeks after Chilliwack city council rejected a rainbow crosswalk, the city’s Board of Education is considering one of its own.

Chair Dan Coulter says a new walkway would send the message of inclusion. In the past, topics that touched on sexual and gender identity haven’t been taboo at the board, but they have been controversial.

Now, even though it isn’t technically a rainbow crosswalk, Coulter says this is a chance to make sure LGBTQ students feel supported, especially those hurt by past debates around school resource SOGI 123.

“You actually have to take action. Our LGBTQ community, over the past two years, I don’t think has felt supported,” he says. “They will see people that are standing up for them. Before, I don’t know if they got a lot of that from the board. We would issue statements, but […] sometimes didn’t bring things to the board that probably should have been brought there.”

SOGI 123 — a resource meant to support LGBTQ students and their families — was a major point of contention for some trustees in Chilliwack. Barry Neufeld, Heather Maas and Darrell Furgason have stood strongly against the sex education resource, citing traditional values

But those trustees have been outnumbered by others like Willow Reichelt. She says she hopes the crosswalk will be approved and stand as a symbol of inclusion for all student in the school district

“Our district, in particular, has been plagued by some homophobic and transphobic comments,” she says. “Being inclusive of everyone is the right side of history, and I think we need to stand up for that.”

Trustees are scheduled to vote on the motion to paint the walkway Tuesday evening.