Teacher says HWDSB’s approach to classroom issue reflects systemic homophobia

A Hamilton teacher is speaking out tonight about the actions of the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB). Teacher Mara Fabrizio says the board’s approach to a recent classroom issue reflects systemic transphobia and homophobia, despite the board’s policies against discrimination.

Fabrizio has been a teacher in Hamilton for almost 20 years. Fabrizio’s school year ended early last month when they were taken out of the classroom because of a parent complaint about a video shown in Fabrizio’s classroom.

Fabrizio was showing the virtual class a National Film Board video of children talking about gender identity, thinking it related to the curriculum and Gay Pride month in June. The parents of one student objected to the video, saying Fabrizio was showing a film depicting sexual assault. “The film does not depict sexual assault in any way,” Fabrizio said.

Fabrizio says the principal at Hillcrest Elementary cut off the class in the middle of the video, even though the principal agreed there was no problem with the video and no depiction of sexual assault.

Fabrizio is queer and nonbinary and uses the pronouns they and them. They say the complaining parents sent emails critical of the lesson and of the teaching, sometimes using vulgar language.

Fabrizio says the end result is that the complaining parents got what they wanted, they were removed from the classroom, instead of being defended by the principal.

Employment lawyer Howard Levitt says the school board should have told the parent to stay out of this, “there are going to be anti-trans parents. That’s why there’s human rights codes, to protect people,” Levitt said.

The HWDSB reiterated today that it’s opposed to homophobia and transphobia but it wouldn’t do an on-camera interview about this issue based on concerns about employment confidentiality and student privacy.

Fabrizio says the school board has policies against transphobia that weren’t enforced.

“They pay a lot of lip service when it comes to equity. They talk a great game about how inclusive they are,” Fabrizio said. Fabrizio is now on medical leave because of stress.

Fabrizio says Hamilton police approached them about the issue. They say three officers went to their house but didn’t seem to have much to say, except a warning about making the name of the complaining parents public, when in fact it was the complaining parents who made their own names public.