Achi news desk-
A school district in New Brunswick has gone to court to avoid being forced to apply the province’s gender identity policy for students.
Anglophone East School District says in a preliminary motion filed this week that the policy violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Constitution, as well as the state’s Human Rights Act and Education Act.
Policy 713 requires parental consent before teachers can use the preferred name or pronouns for transgender or non-binary students under the age of 16.
Anglophone East says Education Minister Bill Hogan has threatened to disband school districts if they do not adhere to the policy.
The district says that in order to minimize harm to LGBTQ students, it has chosen to allow children under the age of 16 to be referred to by their preferred names and pronouns without parental approval.
Policy 713 has received widespread criticism from advocates for LGBTQ students, while Premier Blaine Higgs has said that parents must be notified if their children question their gender identity.
The allegations have not been proven in court and Hogan did not immediately return a request for comment.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on April 5, 2024.
