Regina Public School Board votes down contentious Pride motion

A packed Regina Public School Board meeting erupted Tuesday night when a motion that would have made schools' right to celebrate Pride as they see fit official was defeated in a 4-3 vote.

The result doesn't change what public schools have done up to this point, which is decide individually how to celebrate Pride at their school. The motion was meant to solidify the school board's stance on supporting Pride, should schools want to celebrate.

There were several outbursts from the crowd during the meeting, with one person chanting, "Trans rights are human rights."

The motion was first introduced by school board trustee Aleana Young in June. Young said her motion would have kept the status quo and allow schools to decide individually what their Pride activities will be, the same as Halloween, Christmas and other celebrations.

Listen to school board trustee Aleana Young's interview with the Morning Edition about her motion:

She introduced it after parents disagreed with the Pride celebration at Jack Mackenzie Elementary School this past June. Justine Taylor, a parent, spoke to the board in June about her concerns.

"We know that our children are going to run into different ideas and information that maybe doesn't line up with our own personal beliefs and that's okay," Taylor told the board. "However, when the schools go from presenting objective information to children to subjective promotion of ideas — that's where the line is crossed."

Taylor said that she wants parents to be informed of Pride celebrations at schools and allowed to pull their child from an activity "based on their conscience."

Young said Tuesday she was incredibly disappointed with the outcome of the vote, especially with complaints about process.

School board chair Katherine Gagne had trouble being heard above the loud and emotionally charged room. She said striking down the motion was not shutting down conversation, but rather an opportunity to expand it. She said the result changes nothing.

Trustee Tanya Foster voted against the motion, saying there is a lack of policy guidelines on how Pride works or should work in schools and that she wanted more consultation.

Fellow board trustee Jane Ekong, who also voted no, said this is not a 'yes' or 'no' issue, adding guidelines should be set up.

Young said the motion was brought forward in June and there has been plenty of time to ask questions and clarify.

Listen to reaction from the school board chair, a school board trustee and an LGBTQ advocate: