“Everyone has a sexual orientation and gender identity,” says the website for SOGI education. “SOGI 123 helps educators make schools safer and more inclusive for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI).” QUIRK-E members Lorri Rudland and Lukas Walther were honoured to be featured as Intergenerational Storytellers at the 2025 BC SOGI Educator Summit on October 22 at UBC Robson Square. We were also excited to host a table where we shared our resources. We spoke with a hundred BC teachers from across the province who are committed to safety and inclusion for rainbow youth.
The youth presentation inspired us with the confidence and courage of these Vancouver high school students. They showed how their Pride club is working to create community, to improve universal washrooms and to stop daily micro-aggressions. Kasari Govender, BC Human Rights Commissioner informed us about addressing mis/disinformation and the rise of hate including anti-SOGI sentiment. Her office advocates for the province to develop digital literacy curriculum to help young people gain the skills to differentiate fact from fiction. She offered with great clarity – children have rights, parents have responsibilities. Everyone has the right to freedom of religion without discrimination. No one has the right to impose their religion on another. We are grateful to the organizers of the 2025 SOGI Educator Summit helping us to be lifelong learners.
