5.6.9 Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity Policy

POLICY TYPE: 5.0 Educational Program Policies \ 5.6 Safety
EFFECTIVE DATE: 2025-08-08	LAST REVISED:
THIS POLICY APPLIES TO: Contractors – Individuals engaged to provide services under a contract with SelfDesign Learning Foundation Support Providers – Individuals engaged under a contract or agreement with SelfDesign Learning Foundation to provide services for a specific learner Families – Learners and parents(s)/guardian(s) of learners participating in SelfDesign Learning Foundation’s programs Volunteers – Individuals providing goods/services under the terms of an agreement with SelfDesign Learning Foundation Board Members – Members of the Board of Directors for SelfDesign Learning Foundation and the Foundation for SelfDesign (FSD)

Policy Statement

SelfDesign Learning Foundation (SDLF) is committed to including and integrating acknowledgement, protocol, and resources on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) thereby supporting a learning and working environment that is safe, respectful, equitable, and welcoming of all members of the learning community. This includes all people regardless of real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression, which includes but is not limited to Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQIA+).

Definitions

2SLGBTQIA+ – is an acronym that stands for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and additional sexual orientations and gender identities.

SOGI – is an acronym that stands for sexual orientation and gender identity.

SOGI123 – SOGI123 is a set of resources that schools and teachers can use to develop policies, procedures and teaching strategies as a way to support the safety and wellbeing of all learners. SOGI123 has been used in B.C. and Alberta schools since 2016. The goal of a SOGI-inclusive education is to stop discrimination and bullying by making sure that classroom resources show people from all sorts of backgrounds and give teachers opportunities to talk about the experiences and challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ people. SOGI123 learning resources have been formally evaluated by the B.C. Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium (ERAC) as age-appropriate, and aligned with the provincial curriculum and evidence-based educational approaches

UDL – Universal Design for Learning is an approach to teaching and learning that gives all learners an equal opportunity to succeed. UDL considers methods which aim at removing barriers to learning. UDL aims to offer various ways of engaging in learning, to sustain learner motivation and engagement and to give more than one way for learners to express their learning.

Policy

SelfDesign Learning Foundation will consider the letter and spirit of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the B.C. Human Rights Code in the development of protocol. The legal statutes shall be carefully observed, enforced, and supported, so that all members of the school community feel safe, valued and included.

SDLF recognizes that all learners are impacted by inclusive measures, including the right to safety, confidentiality, and self-expression. Language or behaviour that degrades, denigrates, labels, or stereotypes any community member based on their real, or perceived, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression will not be accepted.

Programmatic offerings and administrative, contractual, and relational domains of the SelfDesign Learning Community will respect learner and contractor rights to self-identification, including the name they wish to be addressed by and the pronouns corresponding to their gender identity.

Additionally, SelfDesign Learning Community will provide inclusive learning activities, materials and inclusive facilities while participating in in-person events. Learners will be included and accommodated for in all extra-curricular activities regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, including support to access and/or set up a Gender Sexual Orientation Alliance or similar club.

Protocol

The protocol is to take proactive and reactive measures that include considerations for sexual orientation and gender identity with respect to all community members.

1. Common Language

All community members will be well-informed of and equipped with appropriate and respectful language through UDL language guidelines and orientation materials.
- E.g.: ‘Using Inclusive Language’.

2. Safety/Anti-Harassment

All guidelines, program agreements and learning agreements, as well as any disciplinary processes will include consideration for sexual orientation and gender identity. This will impact all community members.
- E.g.: ‘Using Inclusive Language’.

3. Self-Identification

Learners and contractors will have the right to self-identification, which includes the name by which they wish to be addressed and the pronouns that correspond to their gender identity.
SDLF will only share preferred name and gender identity with others, including family members, when the individual consents or if there is a safety concern
Guidelines are provided to educators as a way to support learner identification requests.
- E.g.: ‘Preferred Name in SelfDesign Systems’

4. Confidentiality

Learners and contractors will have the right to the confidentiality of their sex, gender, and name upon disclosure to educators or support team members in SDLC.
Guidelines are provided to parents/guardians, educators and support teams as a way to support learner confidentiality and safety.
Learners have access to the SelfDesign counsellor for support.

5. Dress Guidelines

During in-person or online meetings, learners and contractors may express their gender identity or gender expression while maintaining program agreements

6. Gender Integrated and Inclusive Activities

Integrated and inclusive activities will enable learners to join teams and groups that they feel correspond with their gender identity.
- E.g.: Gender Sexual Orientation Alliance (gr 8-12 learners)

7. Contractor Training

All educators will have access to IDEA and SOGI123 materials
All contractors will have ongoing access to orientation materials such as the Workplace Bullying & Harassment Worker Training
All educators will be provided with knowledge and tools to develop a broad understanding of SOGI and the impact it can have on learners.
- E.g.: ‘Using Inclusive Language’, ‘Educator Support for Transitioning or Gender Non-conforming Learners’

8. Inclusive Learning

Educational program materials and activities will contain positive images and accurate information about sexual and/or gender diversity.
Educational resources (LRS requests, LE Library content, Theme and Add-on course content, HLN activities) will be selected and vetted in accordance with all educational policies and program agreements.
SOGI materials are included in school-wide offerings (also available to educators):
- SOGI Newsletter.
- Rainbow Hubs (K-5, 6-7), SOGI Hub (8-12).
- Bulletins.
- Org Updates.
- LE Library content pages.
- Brochure Rack.
- STRIVE: Tools for Success and Wholeness (10-12 Learning Support Services).
- Learner-centred workshops.

9. Facilities (at SelfDesign in-person events)

Individuals may choose to use washrooms and change rooms that match their gender identity, including non-gendered single-stall washrooms and change rooms.

10. Inclusive Extra–Curricular Activities

Learners will be included and accommodated in all extra-curricular activities regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, including support to set up a Gender-Sexual Orientation Alliance or similar club.
For in-person camps, accommodations for changing, sleeping and bathroom needs will be made on a camp by camp basis, honouring inclusion and respecting the needs of all participants. (see Camps Inclusivity Statement for full description).