Every year during Trans Awareness Month, a private school in north Halifax flies a flag on its door in a show of support.
However, teachers and students of Shambhala School were shocked to learn that someone had demolished it a few weeks ago.
The incident was particularly upsetting because it was the second year in a row that this had happened.
“The flag was actually ripped off the flagpole and left on the ground,” said Noel McLellan, associate principal of the school.
“For this flag to trigger…an expression of aggression towards this sign of solidarity was upsetting and in a way heartbreaking. »
Fellow teacher Wesley Pitts serves on the school’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance. He said staff quickly put the flag back up and used the incident as a teaching moment.
“You can knock us down, but we’re going to get back up right away,” Pitts said.
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“We’ve discussed this with our students, and they all know it’s someone else’s opinion. They have their thoughts and opinions about trans people, queer people, and it’s about love and acceptance.
The school did not report the hate crime to police, but would consider doing so if it happened again.
“We have a number of trans students here. It can really feel like an attack on specific people and put them in danger,” McLellan said.
Halifax Regional Police created a hate crimes unit in 2022, and since then the number of crimes reported has continued to increase.
Between 2021 and 2023, the number of hate crimes investigated by police increased from 13 to 112.
Hate incidents have also increased, from a total of three reported in 2021 to 306 in 2023.
In an email, an HRP spokesperson said the “significant” increase in numbers could be attributed to the creation of the unit.
“HRP recognizes that, for a number of reasons, hate crimes are one of the most underreported types of crimes,” wrote Const. Martin Cromwell.
“We have seen a significant increase in the number of reports received in recent years and believe that the creation of the Hate Crimes Unit, increased training and a focused effort on data collection in this area have collectively played a vital role in this increase.
Cromwell said police urge anyone experiencing intimidating or offensive behavior to report it to HRP.
“Even if the investigation does not reveal any foul play in this specific incident, it is important that this is recorded as part of the collective effort to identify trends and prevent violence,” he said.
McLellan said the situation facing the LGBTQ2 community is made more difficult by high-profile celebrities and influencers amplifying ideas that reinforce “trans phobia.”
To change the subject, the school staff is opening the dialogue and would like to start a conversation with the person who took down their flag.
“To have that conversation: ‘Why do you feel the way you feel?’ Why is it a problem that there are trans people around us?’ ” Pitts said.
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