Four terms – gender expression, gender identity, family status and marital status – have pitted members of Toronto’s Catholic school community against each other, with some saying they promote “anti-Catholic doctrine” and others declaring “we are all children of God who deserve love and protection.”

The Toronto Catholic District School Board is debating whether to follow an updated provincial code of conduct that expands the grounds under which no one can be discriminated against, including the four terms that have sparked controversy. On Wednesday trustees, themselves divided, will hear members of the public weigh in.

Board chair Maria Rizzo, who’s on the Catholic Education and Living Our Catholic Values subcommittee handling the matter, supports including the terms in the TCDSB code of conduct. But what was supposed to be a rubber stamp approval degenerated into a “divisive” debate, she says, adding the code also impacts students’ families, who may be comprised of divorced and single parents and same-sex partners.

“We have to comply with the law, we’re a publicly-funded school board, taking taxpayers’ money,” she told the Star.

The issue sparked online petitions. One, “Protect Our LGBT+ Youth & Families From Discrimination in Catholic Schools,” has about 10,700 signatures. Another, calling on Cardinal Thomas Collins to “Urge Catholic Trustees To Reject The Theory Of Gender Identity,” has 1,585 names. Trustees are receiving emails on both sides — those opposed are most upset with including gender identity and gender expression — with one objector saying, “You might as well take all the crosses off the walls,” while another says, “bullying in schools confirms we need to do more, not less,” to ensure student safety.

According to the Human Rights Code and the Ministry of Education, one cannot discriminate on the basis of gender expression, gender identity, family status and marital status. But some argue the TCDSB should use denominational rights guaranteed to Catholic schools under the Constitution to keep it from having to include the language.

“The Education Act requires all district school boards to provide safe, inclusive, and accepting learning environments for all,” said a ministry official, noting students who feel supported and welcome are more likely to succeed academically.

The subcommittee will make a recommendation for the board of trustees to vote on. The decision could have a financial fallout, according to The Angel Foundation for Learning, a charitable organization that serves TCDSB students with initiatives such as breakfast programs. Its executive director John Yan is warning it could lose at least $50,000 in corporate sponsorship — about one-third of total corporate sponsorship — if the terms are excluded because corporations are prohibited from working with organizations that don’t adhere to Ontario’s Human Rights Code. He will address the subcommittee Wednesday.

“There are real threats to front-line families that feel the pain of poverty every single day,” Yan told the Star. “Every dollar we raise goes directly back to support our students.”

In a September letter to the board, the chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission said including the terms is “necessary for the TCDSB to meet its obligations” under the Education Act, the provincial code of conduct and the Human Rights Code. In particular, says Renu Mandhane, adding gender identity and gender expression is key given “the extreme vulnerability of transgender students” who have high rates of depression and suicide and experience isolation, harassment and bullying. “Excluding particular protected grounds would send a harmful and troubling message.”

The issue came to light in the run-up to a March committee meeting, when teacher Paolo De Buono noticed a draft of the board’s updated code of conduct excluded the four terms, which were inadvertently left out by staff. Last October, the ministry sent school boards a memo about changes to the provincial code of conduct. One of the standards of behaviour states all members of the school community must “respect and treat others fairly, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, or disability.” Boards must ensure their codes are consistent with the province’s. The ministry wouldn’t comment on repercussions for boards that don’t follow a directive, noting it can’t remember a board that has explicitly not complied.

By the March meeting, TCDSB staff had corrected the draft copy to include the language in the provincial code. Despite the revision, and De Buono addressing the committee on the need to include the four terms, trustees voted to send the issue to the subcommittee. Since then, the matter has been debated several times with the public making pleas on both sides.

Trustees, who are municipally elected, govern the TCDSB and review policies — and staff support them in making decisions. TCDSB spokesperson Shazia Vlahos says staff has recommended to trustees that the code be updated with the terms. So why the debate?

“TCDSB takes seriously its responsibility to ensure all students are supported and that all policies are aligned with the TCDSB’s mission and values; and hearing from TCDSB families and students on matters that impact students,” said Vlahos.

At one meeting De Buono spoke of improving inclusiveness for LGBT students, noting it is “directly linked to student achievement and well being and ... Catholicity.”

At another, Cristina Tartaglia, who is married to a woman, recounted an episode three years ago when their daughter was in kindergarten and their photo disappeared from a class wall featuring pictures of students’ families. She said the girl’s teacher was always welcoming, but one staff member objected to her family for being “different” and removed the photo.

“We no longer felt like we belonged,” said Tartaglia, whose daughter transferred to another school where staff have been accepting. “By not including the terms, stories like ours will continue to surface.… Including these terms simply means that we are all children of God who deserve love and protection.”

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In her submission, Iola Fortino said including the terms is “a grave disservice” to students, calling it “the continuation of the homosexual agenda imposed on our Catholic schools by the secular government.” She said updating the code would lead to students being taught it’s OK to be gay, trans and change their identity, calling it “a total promotion of anti-Catholic doctrine.” She went on to suggest a special class, or school, for “the homosexuals and trans.... so the rest are not confused or influenced” and said she asks herself what’s next? “Drag queens in our schools?”

Emily De Decker said she opposes including the terms, namely because Pope Francis has spoken out against Catholic schools teaching about gender ideology, rather than God’s creation of two sexes.

Meanwhile, parent Ina Rocha said she objects to wording that “might be perceived to shelter staff and teachers living in relationships or pursuing gender changes that are contrary to the teachings of the faith.”

Student Trustee Taylor Dallin, who’s in Grade 12, told the Star students were “speechless” after hearing the board is considering not including LGBTQ+ people in its message of inclusion.

“Society has made so many steps forward for progress, and not including the four terms in the TCDSB code of conduct will take us many steps back.”