Niagara school board trustees again reject motion to ban Pride flag, police called to remove protesters

Niagara Catholic District School Board (NCDSB) trusteeshave, for a second time, rejected a motion by trustee Natalia Benoit to ban flying the Pride flag at Niagara Catholic schools.

This time, the vote took place afterpolice were called to remove a groupof protesters, many there to support Benoit's motion.

Benoitreturned to work as a trustee followinga six-month ban after she compared the Pride flag to the Nazi flagin 2023.Benoit was suspendedin January 2024after an independent investigator found she had breached the board's code of conduct when she said neither flag should be welcome at the board.

She was relieved of her duties and barred from attending board meetings until June 30. On July 18, she submitted a notice of motion that was shared with the board Sept. 24, notifyingher colleagues that her motion to ban the flag board-wide would be presented at the following meeting, set for Oct. 22.

About 100 people attended meeting

Benoit's motion at the Tuesday meeting asked that"the Niagara Catholic District School Board amend its Flag Flying Protocol to specify that the Pride Flag shall not be flown on school properties or district offices." The motion would have prevented board schools or offices from displaying the flag, which signals acceptance of2SLGBTQ+ students and community members.

That motion wasrejected, withchairDanny Di Lorenzo, vice-chair Rhianon Burkholderand trustees Larry Huibers, Jim Marino, and Paul Turner voting against, whileBenoit andJoe Bruzzese voted in favour. Both student trustees also voted against the motion, though their votes are non-binding.

Tuesday's meeting, the NCDSB said in a press release, was attended by about 100 people, "most of them in support of Trustee Benoit's motion."

The release said that "visitors in the gallery were asked to respect rules of decorum while speakers presented, including allowing speakers to speak uninterrupted, and not videoing the presentations."It added that one person was "repeatedly asked to stop filming," but refused and was asked to leave. After that, the board says, "the individual became belligerent" and "used profanity." Other protestersbegan jeering at trustees, staff and Jennifer MacArthur, president of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association, who spoke as a delegate against the motion.

Suzanne Taras, a parent, spoke in favour of the motion.

Police called but didn't charge anyone

The NCDSB statement said that "as result of the chaos," there was a recessto clear the gallery and move staff and trustees to asecure location.Niagara Regional Police were called.

Const. Philip Gavin told CBC Hamilton that "some persons initially refused to leave," but police were able to eventually clear the gallery. After the protesters had been moved outside, someremained on the property until about 9 p.m., he said on Thursday, noting police did not lay charges.

"Our officers attended the scene to protect the peace and to ensure the safety of everyone involved," Gavin said in an email.

In May 2023, Benoit was videotaped explaining her previous attempt at a flag ban, stating she didn't support flying "any flag at all like the Nazi flag, we don't want that up either, right?"

The Nazis killed six million Jewish peopleduring the Second World War. They also jailed up to 50,000 LGBTQ+ people and sent up to 15,000 to concentration camps, according to Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

Benoit's fellow trustee,Paul Turner, complained about the comments and the board hired law firm Parker Sim LLP to investigate.In its report, the firmwrote:"While we accept that Trustee Benoit was not intending to be hurtful, in effect, Trustee Benoit was comparing the Nazi flag as another example, like the Pride flag that was controversial and therefore according to Trustee Benoit not appropriately displayed at school. As a result, this allegation is substantiated."

The report also said the "Nazi flag is a distinctly recognizable symbol of Nazi propaganda" and "was characterized by its pursuit of racial "purity" pursued through policies designed to exterminate Jews and other minorities including homosexuals by mass murder, among other means."

The report described the Pride flag as one "which always reflects in essence a rainbow, is born out of an intention to include persons historically marginalized in society."

The board voted to sanction Benoit and "disassociate itself from any actions or statements previously made by trustee Benoit."

Benoit previously said in an email to CBCHamilton she wasn't comparing the Pride flag to the Nazi flag.

"There is no comparison of flags," she wrote. "It is a statement that no flags should be flown which would cause conflict and controversy in our schools. Alleging the comparison was only spreading lies provoking a hostile environment."

When asked, in 2023,to describe exactly what Jesus Christ said in the bible about homosexuality, Benoit refused, saying only, "I will not, when sacred scripture speaks for itself."

Niagara Catholic Director of Education, Camillo Cipriano,previously told CBC Hamilton the board began flying the Pride flag at its high schools, adult learning centres and board office in 2021, and at elementary schools in 2022. He said it is a way of signalling support forstudents who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, a group known to face more bullying and mental health challenges than the school population as a whole.

"The New Testament has many stories of Christ himself reaching out to those who are marginalized," he said, noting he has discussed the issue with several priests and the local diocese. "I will continue to fly it as long as it remains my decision."