Northern High School's Gay Straight Alliance group stands on the school's rainbow walkway. June 6, 2019. (BlackburnNews photo by Colin Gowdy)Northern High School's Gay Straight Alliance group stands on the school's rainbow walkway. June 6, 2019. (BlackburnNews photo by Colin Gowdy)
Sarnia

Northern students unveil rainbow walkway

A permanent mark of pride was officially unveiled at the doorstep of a Sarnia high school.

Northern Secondary held a ceremonial bake sale Thursday morning to showcase a rainbow walkway outside their front entrance, an initiative that was orchestrated by the school's Gay Straight Alliance group.

Group President Remy Leigh said the walkway sends the message that Northern is a welcoming school for all, but he said the school still has a way to go.

"Here you see a nice bake sale, a rainbow crosswalk and flag, and that's what we're here to talk about, which is amazing, but this isn't easy. It's not easy to put ourselves out there. It's not easy for me to say 'I'm a bisexual trans man in Sarnia,'" said Leigh. "I am going to help students feel not alone because there is always that risk of harassment and assault, and we have to just learn as a community and as individuals how to stick up for them."

Leigh, a Grade 11 student, said he's been subjected to more harassment at the school since becoming involved with GSA. He's fighting to change the situation.

"People know me as someone who's helping to organize these GSA events and I kind of get pinpointed as 'that kid,'" said Leigh. "So I haven't noticed [an improvement for LGBTQ+ students at Northern], but I don't know, I feel like we are kind of ratting-out those students that are homophobic and letting them know that they are not welcome."

Leigh said Sarnia is a very conservative community that needs to have more representation for the LGBTQ+ community. He said the walkway is helping to raise awareness and it's creating conversations that maybe wouldn't have taken place.

Fellow GSA member Simon Harris, a Grade 11 student who came out as gay in Grade 8, said this walkway is a big step forward for the school and for the Sarnia community.

"It's a symbol of development and progress in the city of Sarnia. Even five years ago this would've been totally unthinkable. So the idea that we can see a symbol of hope here, and it's a two-fold symbol for safety, in my view that's quite remarkable," said Harris.

Student council presidents Madison Winegard and Sarah Woods both expressed their admiration for the walkway.

"It's a visual representation of our school community and it ensures that members of the LGBTQ+ community are welcome here," said Winegard.

"I'm proud to say we're the first school in Lambton County to have a rainbow sidewalk. It's a symbol of acceptance," said Woods.

The GSA raised money for the walkway through their annual bake sale and other initiatives.

The Lambton Kent District School Board is celebrating pride throughout the first week of June with rainbow flags at every school.

Northern Secondary's rainbow walkway. June 6, 2019. (BlackburnNews photo by Colin Gowdy)Northern Secondary's rainbow walkway. June 6, 2019. (BlackburnNews photo by Colin Gowdy)

Northern High School's Gay Straight Alliance group stands on the school's rainbow walkway. June 6, 2019. (BlackburnNews photo by Colin Gowdy)Northern High School's Gay Straight Alliance group stands on the school's rainbow walkway. June 6, 2019. (BlackburnNews photo by Colin Gowdy)

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