Townhall described several cases in which school districts across the country tried to keep parents away from information about their child’s gender identity, including: in Colorado, Virginia, Kansas, Ohio and California. Last year, Republican Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.), who will run for the White House in 2024, introduced legislation to prevent schools from hiding information about students’ gender identity from parents.
Now, conservative lawmakers in the left-leaning country have pushed back against policies that kept parents away from their child’s gender identity.
Conservative lawmakers in the Canadian province of New Brunswick have introduced changes to policies regarding transgender students in schools to “recognize the role of parents.”
The first policy, created in 2020, required teachers to address “transgender” students by their chosen name and preferred pronouns, regardless of their age. The policy stated that it was up to the student whether his or her parents would be informed about this (via Reuters):
On Thursday, provincial Education Minister Bill Hogan announced changes to that policy. From July 1, children under 16 must have their parents’ consent to change their names and pronouns at school.
Another change to the policy removes a reference to allowing students to participate in activities “consistent with their gender identity.” There is also a modern requirement for gender-neutral toilets to be private.
New Brunswick’s Progressive Conservative Premier Blaine Higgs said the policy change “recognizes the role of parents,” but he immediately faced opposition from within his party when eight lawmakers – including six cabinet members – boycotted the proceedings of Parliament on Thursday.
[…]
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who attended an LGBTQ+ event in Toronto on Thursday, spoke out against the move.
“Right now, transgender children in New Brunswick are being told that they have no right to be themselves and that they need to ask permission,” he said. “Transgender children need to feel safe and not be targeted by politicians.”
The debate in New Brunswick mirrors similar debates taking place in the United States, where it has become a cultural wedge between the two major parties heading into the 2024 presidential election.
According to After a millenniumHiggs told reporters he would not change the modern policy because he “takes a strong stance on families.”
One “woke” teacher in training complained about the policy in a TikTok video in which she claimed that children would be “handed over” to their parents.
A teacher-in-training breaks down at the thought of not being able to hide from her parents in New Brunswick when a child under 16 transitions to another gender.
Tell me this isn’t a cult. pic.twitter.com/8Vfh5lsf8n
— Cosmin Dzsurdzsa 🇷🇴 (@cosminDZS) June 10, 2023
“I don’t know if I want to leave this province and go somewhere else. I don’t want to get ahead of the students. I know how dangerous this shit is,” she said in the video, crying.
However, a new survey found that 57 per cent of Canadians agreed that schools should make parents aware of their child’s gender identity and pronouns at school, the Canadian website reports. True North.
On Twitter, Higgs wrote that Trudeau and other politicians “don’t believe parents should be involved in such critical discussions about gender identity, even for children as young as 4.”
“In New Brunswick, we will have a safe learning environment and better mental health support, while respecting the role of the parent,” he added.
Susan Holt and Justin Trudeau do not believe that parents should engage in such critical discussions about gender identity, even with children as young as 4.
In New Brunswick, we will have a safe learning environment and improved mental health support, while respecting the role of parents. pic.twitter.com/WWDK8ID9Mw
— Blaine Higgs (@premierbhiggs) June 10, 2023
