WOULD JESUS FLY THE PRIDE FLAG? MY JESUS WOULD By Walt Chaisson

WOULD JESUS FLY THE PRIDE FLAG? MY JESUS WOULD

By Walt Chaisson

How many more times can support for LGBTQ2SIA be given and yanked away simply because some people are uncomfortable? I am referring, of course, to the decision by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board to raise a “modified version” of the Pride flag to honour Pride month, rather than the historical, relevant one that was created through blood, sweat, and, tears. And then, after a trustee openly said that pride is the “deadliest of deadly sins,” their decision to not fly any flag at all!

Whew! Quite a dance, and not the good kind.

How do I feel, as a gay Catholic teacher in a Catholic system, knowing that the flag will not be flown? I would love to say I am surprised, but I am not. It is more of the typical backpeddling and double-speak from Catholic boards, who are known for saying or implying things like, “We support you, just not your lifestyle,” or, “We support you, but not too openly,” or, “You can have a Pride flag, but it cannot be that actual Pride symbol, because that’s too political.”

Am I upset? Yes! Gutted? You bet. For the students and the community at large, who need to see physical examples of love, support, and acceptance from anywhere, but most especially from their Catholic school boards.

I am particularly disappointed by the (typical) actions of the Waterloo Catholic school board in light of the fact that there are teachers, staff, and organizations like OECTA that do actually support LGBTQ2SIA students and staff, and who would be proud to fly that flag in the Pride parade.

Why did this back-peddling occur? Because apparently there was “feedback” from a variety of sources? Well then. Let’s just do what is easy, shall we? Let’s just not do anything and allow perverse, hateful thoughts about LGBTQ2SIA people continue to win.

Is that what Jesus would do? Not my Jesus. And I am hopeful that your Jesus would not, either. My Jesus would turn hatred and vile words against those who dared speak them.

It is not gay pride that is misplaced. It is the pride of believing you are above others. That you are better than others. That you are able to look at a section of our students and our population and tell them they are not as important, equal, or loved as others.

Is that not exactly what the gay community has been fighting against? Is that not what

Catholic school boards across the province are trying to diminish and replace with a sense of inclusion and diversity?

The simple act of raising the internationally recognized Pride flag, created out of the experiences of the past, would have demonstrated the exact kind of love, acceptance, and equality that Catholics have been taught to practice. The gay community needed to see it. The community as a whole needed to see it – even if it made some people “uncomfortable.”

It is not pride that is the deadliest of sins, it is the failing to support all our beautiful youth, our students, to whom we say each day that God loves and supports. If we mean it, we must show it – raise the flag!

In my possibly naive vision, I believe that Jesus would raise the Pride flag. And why not? We are taught that he embraced necessary change, that he demonstrated acts of equality, inclusion, and love, even if it made people “uncomfortable.” People will always be uncomfortable – it is how change occurs and how we grow as a society. Growth and change can only happen outside of our comfort zone.

Jesus would be the first one hoisting the flag and using it as a teachable moment, the lesson being that we need to support our gay students and wider community. That we need to stop doing what is comfortable and do what is right and just. Because that is what Jesus would do.

Catholic school boards consistently say that we are the difference, we are the way to the light, peace, and justice. But actions speak louder than words. I call on Catholic school boards across Ontario to raise awareness and stand up for what Jesus preached. Welcome all children, not just the straight children. Show the gay students and the gay community at large that they are creations of God, that they matter, that they are supported and loved. The situation in Waterloo was about more than raising a flag. It was about signalling to all who witnessed it that the school board’s support is more than lip service, that it is meaningful, measurable, and real. It could have made a difference. It could have been the visible support needed to show our gay population that they are important, needed, and loved.

I think it is time that we, as teachers in Catholic schools, move beyond understanding why our gay population is treated differently. It is time to show visible examples of support, love, and acceptance to our gay students and neighbours, who we have been so blessed by God to have in our schools and in our communities. Maybe it is time someone else take up the call that Waterloo did not. Raise the flag! Show the support. Act against the wrongdoing.

Jesus acted against wrongdoing. He taught people lessons of love and acceptance through action.

Would Jesus raise a Pride flag? Mine would, and I am hoping yours would too.

HAPPY Pride month everyone.

Walt Chaisson is a teacher at Ascension of Our Lord in Malton, and a proud member of OECTA’s Diversity Advisory Board.