(Fredericton) A New Brunswick school district has taken legal action to avoid being forced to enforce the provincial policy on students’ gender identity.
The Anglophone East School District claims, in a preliminary motion filed this week, that the policy violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Constitution, as well as the Human Rights Act and the Provincial Education Act.
Policy 713 requires parental consent before teachers can use the preferred name or pronouns for transgender or non-binary students under 16 years of age.
Anglophone East says Education Minister Bill Hogan has threatened to disband school districts if they don’t adhere to the policy.
The district says that to minimize harm to LGBTQ students, it chose to allow children under 16 to be referred to by their preferred names and pronouns without parental approval.
Policy 713 has faced widespread criticism from advocates for LGBTQ students, while Premier Blaine Higgs has said parents need to be informed if their children question their gender identity.
The allegations have not been tested in court and Mr. Hogan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.