Today’s presentation will be a Hybrid meeting with online and in-person options.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/971381033
Join us in-person at The 519, 519 Church Street, Rm 301
“Parental vs. Child Rights: Gender Pronouns & Name Changes”
Presented by Tanya Long
New Brunswick and Saskatchewan have recently instituted a regulation that if a child under 16 wishes to change their gender pronoun or their name, the school must inform the parents. This has mushroomed into a national issue. It has become an issue in the Manitoba election; Ontario's Minister of Education Stephen Lecce is considering it; Premier Doug Ford has stated that such a change is up to the parents; Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has stated that he will make turning this into a federal requirement part of his platform (never mind that Education is a provincial matter).
On Wednesday, October 20, a protest called 1 Million March for Children took place in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Fredericton and other cities. This March was organized by those opposed to tolerating and teaching gender and sexual diversity in schools. The March was attended by parents, students, educators and politicians, many of whom were there to protest the protestors.
Do parents have an absolute right to know? Those who say no, argue that children have a right to privacy and protection. Some children come from homes where "coming out" could result in being beaten or thrown out of the home. Conversion therapy is illegal in Canada but will that prevent it from happening? Some parents try to dissuade their children because they fear the difficult life their child will face.
Children crave parental approval. Even those who come from completely open and accepting families may feel safer "coming out" to friends and at school before doing so to parents.
-Where do you stand on this issue?
-Is the New Brunswick and Saskatchewan regulation a violation of the Human Rights Code that requires accommodation to transgender needs?
-About 1 million Canadians over 15 (4%) are lesbian, gay, bisexual or of a sexual orientation other than heterosexual. Gender diversity makes up 0.33% of the population. Figures as per StatsCan. Is this a tempest in a teapot?
-Are there other issues that might be at play here, for example a girl taking off her hijab?
Join us for the discussion.