Outcry over pride flag at elite Cape Town school

Matric pupils at Bishops Diocesan College, in Cape Town, have taken the school to task over the hoisting of the pride flag.

Together with some members of the Student Representative Forum (SRF), they penned a statement urging the school not to do so this year.

Bishops College has been flying the flag for three days during Pride Month to recognise and support members of the queer community at the school since 2022.

Joining parents who have in the past also took issue with the stance, in a letter that’s gone viral on X, the Class of 2024 slammed the school’s move as divisive.

They believe it feeds into perceptions that members of the queer community are being given special treatment.

They say the school’s and country’s flags are the only symbols that are representative of all students.

“We accept all boys who are students at this school, regardless of who they are attracted to or who they love, but we do not accept division, we don’t accept symbols that seek to split us up into groups based on attributes that we can’t control,” the statement reads.

“We hope to make Bishops a place where all students are united, equal and feel that they are able to learn and socialise freely.”

X users have praised the young men for bravery, leadership and maturity.

These Bishops Matrics deserve to be applauded for standing up for equality. Takes a lot of guts. I hope they are praised, but they will likely be struck down. #schoolcapture

We, certain matrics of the class of 2024 and other dedicated members of the SRF, would like to make it… pic.twitter.com/ZByxkxKWNk

— Induna (@FreeInduna) June 14, 2024

The bold move by students has so far been met with praise online, with some social media users commending the boys for upholding an inclusive school culture.

These Bishops Matrics deserve to be applauded for standing up for equality. Takes a lot of guts. I hope they are praised, but they will likely be struck down. #schoolcapture

We, certain matrics of the class of 2024 and other dedicated members of the SRF, would like to make it… pic.twitter.com/ZByxkxKWNk

— Induna (@FreeInduna) June 14, 2024

These Bishops Matrics deserve to be applauded for standing up for equality. Takes a lot of guts. I hope they are praised, but they will likely be struck down. #schoolcapture

We, certain matrics of the class of 2024 and other dedicated members of the SRF, would like to make it… pic.twitter.com/ZByxkxKWNk

— Induna (@FreeInduna) June 14, 2024

Diversity Specialist, Terry Oakley-Smith, says the learners’ move shows that the school has its work cut out to educate learners about diversity and inclusion.
 
“In an environment such as a school, there are bound to be pupils who are queer. It sounds like the flag was being raised without students understanding what it symbolised. It means standing in solidarity,” she told YNews.

YNews reached out to the school for its response to the matriculants’ outcry but was told by an administrator that school is on term break and the principal was unavailable.