B.C. school apologizes for homophobic yearbook slur
Robin Tomlin said he hopes the apology will give hope to other bullying victims
CBC News
Posted: Oct 22, 2012 7:45 AM PT
Last Updated: Oct 22, 2012 5:52 PM PT
A B.C. man who was the victim of a homophobic slur printed in his yearbook more than four decades ago has received an in-person apology from the North Vancouver School District and his former high school today.
Robin Tomlin said he was tormented for years after the word "fag" was printed next to his picture in the Argyle Secondary School yearbook in 1970.
He tried for several years to have the school district print a replacement page for the copies in its library, but it was not until he enlisted the help of a lawyer that the school district complied and sent him an email saying they regretted the incident.
After the story was published in the media, the school district eventually agreed to Tomlin's request for the face-to-face apology, which took place at Argyle on Monday morning.
Robin Tomlin had a homophobic slur published next to his photo in his 1970 Argyle Secondary School yearbook. (CBC)Outside the school Tomlin read out the new inscription next to his picture in his new yearbook.
"It says, 'Robin Tomlin. Meet as many people from around the world as I can. I want to be a cowboy," he said.
It was the inscription he always wanted, and now he can put behind him the slur that has bothered him his entire adult life, he said.
Tomlin also said he hopes the apology will give other victims of bullying hope.
"I hid it pretty good, but over the years, say the last 10 years, there has been so many stories of bullying coming out, it just kept bringing it back. And I just hated to see all these new victims out there, so I hope I can help."
He said some of his old high school classmates will also be throwing him a grad party later on Monday, but noted he has never received any apology from those who bullied him or printed the slur in the yearbook.
Tomlin said he was so terrified of bullies during high school that after the yearbook was published, he was too frightened to attend his prom.
The apology follows the suicide of B.C. teen Amanda Todd, who brought worldwide attention to the problem of bullying online and at schools.
Share Tools
Latest British Columbia News Headlines
- Teen's death sparks call for social services information
- The Alberta government wants to see changes on how provinces share information about children under the protection of social services. more »
- Christy Clark thanks Liberal MLAs in Vancouver
- B.C. Premier Christy Clark thanked her newly elected and re-elected MLAs in Vancouver on Thursday, who gathered for the first time following the Liberals' surprise victory in last week's provincial election. more »
- Pickup truck backs up over mother, 2 children in tent
- A 20-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly backing her pickup truck over a mother and two children who were sleeping in a tent at a campsite in northeastern B.C. more »
- Fever medicine for infants, children under recall
- Quality concerns with a Chinese producer of acetaminophen have prompted a recall of four fever medications meant for infants and children. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Federal Court won't remove MPs over robocall allegations
- The Federal Court says it won't throw six MPs out of their seats over allegations of widespread vote suppression through automated robocalls in the 2011 federal election. But Judge Richard Mosley did find that fraud occurred in the election. more »
- Duffy says he wants to give Canadians 'the whole story'
- Senator Mike Duffy says he wants a "full and open" inquiry so Canadians can get all the facts about the scandal that has rocked the Senate and the Prime Minister's Office and that he has no plans to resign. more »
- Alleged Ford crack video seller not responding to calls
- The journalist who broke the story alleging Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was recorded on video smoking crack cocaine says he may never be able to get his hands on the evidence. more »
- 3 injured in Washington state bridge collapse
- A Washington state bridge over a river collapsed Thursday evening, dumping two vehicles into the water and sparking a rescue effort by boats and divers who searched the chilly waterway north of Seattle. more »
- Bridge collapse on Washington interstate drops cars into water
- Pickup truck backs up over mother, 2 children in tent
- Vancouver man abandons Porsche on B.C. ferry
- Teen's death sparks call for social services information
- B.C. teen saves pet dog in 'terrifying' cougar attack
- Men found dead in B.C. lake wore oversized life-jackets
- Christy Clark thanks Liberal MLAs in Vancouver
- 750 homes sliding away in Quesnel, B.C.
- Johnsons Landing homes must be abandoned, says report
