READING OF LGBT CHILDREN’S BOOK VETOED BY VICE PRINCIPAL
(Photo: Slate)
An LGBT-focused picture book was scheduled to be shared at Charlottetown Junior Public School until the school vetoed the project at the last minute.
Catherine Hernandez, author of M is for Mustache: A Pride ABD Book, was excited to share her LGBT-friendly children’s book with the students.
“I thought, wouldn’t it be great for Pride to go and offer… almost like a circle time with the kids,” Hernandez said.
The staff at Charlottetown Junior Public School was initially enthusiastic about the plan; however, Vice Principal Marlie Delicieux changed her mind a few weeks later, saying, “not now”.
The decision was made as a preemptive measure to avoid backlash from parents who were already agitated about Ontario’s restructured sex-education curriculum which will be introduced in the new school year.
Fortunately, Hernandez was able to share her book at Nelson Mandela Park Public School as well as Nelson Mandela Day Care Centre. While both readings were received favourably by the children, there were complaints from some of the parents.
“It’s 2015, you think they would be open to this discussion. I’m not doing sex education. I’m showing positive images of what a queer family looks like. I’m teaching them terms like ally and Pride — these are all beautiful parts of being in a queer family,” says Hernandez.
