Understanding what SOGI means for students and staff in the Kamloops school system

KAMLOOPS — Misinformation and misunderstanding was prominent at anti-SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) protests Wednesday (Sept 20). SOGI was introduced in 2016 under the BC Liberal government of the time. It does not stand alone as it’s own curriculum but is an aspect of diversity used across a range of grades and subject areas.

“It’s a set of resources that are provided to teachers, school administrators, districts, so they are able to support students, whoever they are, so that they feel like they belong in the school community, that they are not bullied, not harassed,” said BC Education Minister Rachna Singh, speaking to CFJC Today Thursday.

The term ‘indoctrination’ was thrown around at protest sites on Wednesday. SD73 Board of Education Chair Heather Grieve said that was hard to hear as teachers are just looking to support children to the best of their abilities, including by using SOGI resources.

“There is a lack of understanding of the purpose of the SOGI 123 resources,” said Grieve. “And certainly a lack of understanding about the school system about trying to support our students as well as the staff and everybody included in the system in being comfortable and feeling safe with who they are and being accepted for who they are versus trying to change them into something they aren’t.”

In Kamloops, SOGI is a fundamental aspect of inclusivity for SD73. Superintendent Rhonda Nixon spoke to how SOGI is used by teachers in the district.

“If we had a book about families and I’m showing you a book about families portrayed as moms, dads, two moms, two dads, aunts, uncles. It gets people taking about, ‘Wow, your family looks different than my family. Is that okay?’ Well yes, of course it’s okay. We are all able to have different families,” described Nixon about a potential scenario for Grade 1 students.

One of the big misunderstandings addressed by Nixon was how SOGI is different than sexual education, which parents still have the right to opt their children out of.

“That’s not what SOGI is,” stated Nixon. “There are outcomes within that K-12 scope and sequence that talk about diversity and identity, and sexual orientation and gender identity specifically. But we don’t want parents to think it’s only that scope and sequence, because of course then it gets conflated with that scope and sequence and people then get nervous about what is being taught.”

Minister Singh, similar to both Nixon and Grieve, stated that if parents are worried, the best course of action is communication.

“The communication is best way to understanding more about SOGI, have those conversations. And I say this as being a parent myself, go and talk to your child’s teachers, get this information. Your child’s safety is paramount for everybody — especially at the schools. We want to create those safe spaces,” added Singh.

On Wednesday, the NDP, Green and BC United parties came out in support of SOGI, while the BC Conservative party vowed to remove it if elected.

Minister Singh did reiterate that SOGI is not going anywhere under the NDP government.