School trustee comes out as bisexual after another trustee gets suspended for anti-2SLGBTQ+ comments

A Louis Riel School Division trustee in Winnipeg has come out publicly as bisexual, following last week’s suspension of another trustee for posting anti-2SLGBTQ+ content on her social media.

Last Tuesday, LRSD officials unanimously voted to suspend trustee Francine Champagne for breaking an internal code of conduct regarding respect for human diversity and the use of social media. In response to send a clear message, trustee Ryan Palmquist announced on his Twitter page that he is bisexual.

As a @louis_riel_sd Trustee, parent of a child in the division, and community member, I feel a sense of duty to LRSD families & students in the current political climate to step up and be counted, and come out publicly as Bisexual and a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community.????️‍????????️‍⚧️???? pic.twitter.com/InufsiAEyL

— Ryan Palmquist (@Palmquist88) June 9, 2023

“For me to continue to enjoy that privilege of being safe from this type of discrimination, while the students that I am purporting to be an ally of, aren’t safe from it, was selfish,” explained Ryan Palmquist, LRSD Trustee in Winnipeg.

“I felt that I should step forward and be counted to send, what I felt, was the strongest message that I possible could.”

Palmquist says he was appalled by Champagne’s social media posts. Immediately after the decision to suspend Champagne was made, the Louis Riel School Board posted on their social media pages saying the comments made by Champagne do not “reflect the viewpoints of the school board or the Senior Leadership Team.”

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Palmquist says this decision was the most the board could do to punish Champagne.

“Those types of views, and that kind of conduct is not in keeping with Louis Riel, and is not what we want the students, particularly the LGBTQ students, but really all students and families in the division to know is the kind of environment we are creating in the classroom.”

Palmquist says he has been aware of his sexuality since he was in his early 20s, but said most people assumed he wasn’t bisexual because he is married with kids. He says he hopes Champagne can take the next three months to reflect and learn and is open to having a conversation with her.

“When she comes back, ready to take the training, that we will all be taking, that she will have a more open mind and be able to reject all these dangerous rhetoric and move forward together.”

Palmquist says hate towards the 2SLGBTQ+ community has been growing over the last few years, not just here in Manitoba, but across the country. He says he wants everyone to feel safe in school.

“Our values are the complete opposite of what was expressed by trustee Champagne.”