Vancouver teachers’ union apologizes after officer removes LGBTQAI2S+ inclusion campaign posters

The Vancouver Secondary Teachers’ Association is apologizing to students and staff at a high school and acknowledging that one of its union officers was involved in the removal of posters pushing for permanent LGBTQAI2S+ representation on student council.

Emma Meredith-Black arrived at school at Britannia Secondary in East Vancouver to find posters she had put up had been taken down. Meredith-Black, who is transgender and pansexual, had been campaigning for permanent Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity reps on student council.

The posters had a QR code that allowed students to sign an online petition if they supported the change to the student council constitution, and Meredith-Black says she and others managed to gather more than 200 signatures.

“Frankly, it’s just disgusting that that would even happen,” Meredith-Black told CityNews, after coming forward with her story. “These people, especially when it comes to teachers, they’re in charge of shaping the future of students.”

Those feelings were echoed by Frieda Mestinsek, a pansexual student who is also involved in the campaign.

“I was so upset and angry when my friend told me [about the removal of the posters],” Mestinsek told CityNews in an interview. “That makes the school environment feel not safe. The fact nobody addressed it to the entire school immediately, just made that feel worse.”

Frieda Mestinsek (left) and Emma Meredith-Black (right) are speaking out after posters pushing for permanent LGBTQAI2S+ representation on Britannia Secondary student council were taken down. (CityNews image)

CityNews had been asking for comment from the Vancouver Secondary Teachers’ Association (VSTA) since Friday. On Tuesday afternoon, the VSTA sent a statement, saying it has apologized to the students and student groups involved, as well as the school principal, calling this an error.

It goes on to acknowledge the removal of the posters caused harm to Britannia students and staff.

Related articles:

• B.C. Conservatives who voted against banning ‘conversion therapy’ ousted

• Syrian LGBTQ refugee wants to help others find safety in Canada

CityNews asked BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) President Teri Mooring about that apology and if this is where this ends.

“Any time there has been an issue like this, it’s important to take responsibility, and that’s what happened,” Mooring said. “In any situation, making things better going forward takes time. What we all need to do is continue — and this is a real key area of the BCTF right now — we’re doing a lot of work in terms of our internal structures, around reducing barriers to our own members’ activism in our own union.

“What these students are doing is reflective of what we’re trying to do internally as well, and what we’re trying to do within our public schools, is raise awareness around the barriers some students face — and staff members face as well — and reduce those barriers. I do think it takes time to rebuild trust that’s been broken, and over time that will happen.

“I can certainly say that the BCTF is very committed to working with students, with families, and other community groups to raise awareness about the issues that equity-seeking students and teachers face, and to do our best to make sure that those barriers get reduced. That’s certainly a commitment that’s been long held by the BCTF, and I just want to underline that that work is not going to stop.”

In a statement, the Vancouver School Board says the posters were removed without the consent of Britannia Secondary’s school principal.

It goes on to say the “District is fully supportive of the students in their work to amend the student council constitution and increase diversity of representation on student council.”