Child and youth advocate Kelly Lamrock says changes to a gender-identity policy for the New Brunswick school system limit children's rights
“Child and youth advocate Kelly Lamrock says changes to a gender-identity policy for the New Brunswick school system violate the provincial Human Rights Act, the Education Act and children's charter rights.
“In June, Education Minister Bill Hogan said he changed Policy 713 on sexual orientation and gender identity to make it mandatory to deny a request from a child under 16 to use a specific name or pronoun unless parents consent.”
Why are you, as a "save our children" adult, bringing your KIDS to a protest to denounce their own rights? You're letting your KIDS scream hate, and literally spit at people. Your children just advocated for genocide against trans fellow youth, and said we should just go to war if we're so upset. Your fucking KIDS are saying this because YOU taught them to. You're accusing US of being the groomers, yet you force your kids to protest things they don't even understand? When we chant that "Children Have Rights" and your KIDS are screaming back "No We Don't" because that's what YOU'VE taught them? Disgusting display.
On June 8, the New Brunswick government rolled back protections for trans students in public schools. This is an attack on the rights of tra
"On June 8, the New Brunswick government rolled back protections for trans students in public schools.
The announcement of the review of Policy 713 drew hundreds into the streets in defence of the policy. Days after the announcement of the review, more than 350 protesters rallied in front of the New Brunswick legislature in Fredericton in support of the policy.
The New Brunswick Union has already stepped up to condemn the revisions to the policy, and back its members who do choose not to implement the revisions. […] If all teachers and school staff refuse to apply the change, then the revision of Policy 713 will remain a dead letter. This would be a tremendous example of workers’ solidarity in the fight against oppression for all others to follow."
As more provinces change gender identity policies in schools, or suggest parental rights must be prioritized, an advocate says polices need
As more provinces mention parental rights when it comes to name and pronoun changes for kids in schools, nursing professor and author Martha Paynter says it’s “very discouraging.”
“We know that already LGBTQ youth are disproportionately likely to experience mental illness, homelessness, substance use disorders, and of course, most concerningly, suicidality,” Paytner, an assistant professor at the University of New Brunswick, says.
The premise of the arguments made by some provinces is the need to inform parents about changes to their child’s preferred names or pronouns.
On the surface, it makes sense for parents to have a high level of involvement in their child’s upbringing. But Paynter says we need to be cautious about those who don’t have a safe space.
“If a child is not telling their parents something, it’s because the child is afraid of the parent,” she says. “In this country, we do not have parental rights. You do not govern your child like you own a pet. Rather, we have children’s rights.” [...]
New Brunswick is maintaining the central elements of its policy on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools despite a report saying
FREDERICTON - New Brunswick is maintaining the central elements of its policy on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools despite a report saying the policy violates the Charter rights of children.
Education Minister Bill Hogan told reporters Wednesday his government tweaked Policy 713 to give it clarity, following last week's critical report by the child and youth advocate.
But the main thrust of the policy stays the same: students under 16 who are questioning their gender identity must get their parents' consent before teachers can use their preferred first names or pronouns at school.
"Otherwise, what we're saying is that we're keeping information from parents and that's not the role of the school," Hogan said Wednesday.
The province made changes to the Policy713in June, one of which requires children under 16 to have parental consent before they can officially change their preferred first names or pronouns at school. The changes sparked widespread criticism, including from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. [...]
The Department of Education has not received a single complaint from parents whose child’s name or pronouns change was kept secret from them
A right to information response received by a University of New Brunswick professor shows that from 2020 to May 25, 2023, the Department of Education received no written complaints from parents alleging the school was keeping them in the dark about their children's preferred pronouns.
Education Minister Bill Hogan cited "hundreds" of complaints when he announced in May that he was reviewing an education policy designed to ensure the safety of LGBTQ students.
But when education professor and former teacher Melissa Dockrill Garrett sought details through a right to information request, she was told the Education Department had no records of any complaints.
"The response that I received was enough reason to indicate that there really was no valid reason to begin this review in the first place," Garrett said.
In June, after the review of Policy 713, Hogan announced changes because he said the policy had amounted to "keeping secrets" from parents because it empowered school officials to use a child's chosen name or pronoun informally, regardless of parental consent, and only required that consent for official changes in school records. [...]
Trans rights activist Dominique Légèr said the comments are "insulting" and "concerning"
Members of New Brunswick’s transgender community say Premier Blaine Higgs’ comments on gender dysphoria are “insulting” and “harmful.”
On Thursday, the Premier told the legislature: “We’re seeing a rapid onset of gender dysphoria. It’s expanded in the last several years and it’s becoming popular and trendy.”
Gender dysphoria is a phenomenon some transgender people experience in which the difference between their gender and the one assigned to them at birth causes distress.
It has been recognized by the medical community since 1980, first under the name “gender identity disorder,” before being changed to “gender dysphoria” in 2013.
Nicki Lyons-MacFarlane, a trans non-binary person and queer and trans rights advocate in Fredericton, has experienced it. [...]
