A Courtice parent is upset over the use of Rainbow High Vacations
Jul 09, 2007 - 12:51 PM
By Crystal Crimi ccrimi@durhamregion.com
DURHAM -- A parent has pulled his son from an Oshawa high school after discovering it's using a company that caters to gay and lesbian travel for a student trip to Europe.
When Dwight Budgell of Courtice saw he was to make his cheque payable to Rainbow High Vacations for an O'Neill Collegiate Vocational Institute trip to Europe, he decided to check out the company.
"I clicked on (the website); it's the world's largest gay and lesbian travel company," said Mr. Budgell.
He said he's since made various calls inquiring about Rainbow High Vacations' involvement with the trip and received some different answers, prompting him to completely remove his son from the school rather than just the trip. He was also concerned his son, who attends O'Neill for its regional arts program, would be "blackballed" by the school because he made an issue.
Lou Vavougios, the Durham District School Board's Oshawa superintendent, said Mr. Budgell's complaint is the first of its kind he's received.
The board used an educational tours division that books everything and travels with the students, said Mr. Vavougios.
"Other than the ticket, there's no other transaction with Rainbow High (Vacations)," Mr. Vavougios said.
His understanding is the company is not on or part of the trip in any other way. He added it's no different than going to a travel agent, booking a flight, and receiving a ticket.
"It really doesn't make a difference where you get your ticket from," he said - it's just a seat on a plane.
Mr. Vavougios said the education tours company may use several different operators in arranging a trip.
"We don't discriminate as to what agencies they are or what they do," said Mr. Vavougios.
Mr. Budgell said he has no problem with gay or lesbian people, but he doesn't support the "propaganda" of gay and lesbian trips. He added he wouldn't have a problem supporting a travel agency that was more diversified or if a gay person was a rep on the trip.
"What they want to do with their own personal lifestyle, I don't have a problem with it," said Mr. Budgell.
But the Courtice man who attends an Ajax/Pickering church is worried about the message it would send to his son that it's an OK lifestyle when he doesn't think it is.
The company may just be handling the trip, but, "I'm handing them the cheque," he said.
The school is also suggesting there's nothing wrong with the lifestyle by using the company, he said, and asked why not use a local agency or one dedicated to school trips instead of one that's all about gays when you click on its website. He said he'd rather pay more money than write a cheque to an openly gay and lesbian company.
He added his son agrees with his decision.
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