Townhall has covered several instances of school districts across the country attempting to keep parents out of the loop when it comes to their child’s gender identity, including in Colorado, Virginia, Kansas, Ohio and California. Last year, Republican Sen. Tim Scott (SC), who is running for the White House in 2024, introduced legislation that would prevent schools from hiding information about a student’s gender identity from their parents.
Now, conservative lawmakers in a left-wing country have pushed back against policies that kept parents out of the loop with their child’s gender identity.
Conservative lawmakers in the Canadian province of New Brunswick made changes to policies to transgender student policies at schools in order to “recognize the role of parents.”
The former policy, which was created in 2020, required teachers to address “transgender” students by their chosen names and preferred pronouns, regardless of their age. And, the policy mandated that it was up to the student if their parents were informed of this (via Reuters):
On Thursday, provincial Education Minister Bill Hogan announced changes to that policy. From July 1, children under 16 must have parental consent to alter their names and pronouns at school.
Another change to the policy removes a reference to students being allowed to participate in activities "consistent with their gender identity". There is also a new requirement that gender-neutral washrooms be private.
New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative Premier Blaine Higgs said the policy change "recognized the role of parents," but he immediately ran into opposition from within his own party as eight lawmakers - including six Cabinet members - boycotted parliamentary business on Thursday.
[...]
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, attending an LGBTQ+ event in Toronto on Thursday, spoke out against the move.
"Right now trans kids in New Brunswick are being told they don't have the right to be their true selves, that they need to ask permission," he said. "Trans kids need to feel safe, not targeted by politicians."
The New Brunswick debate reflects similar ones being held in the United States, where it has become a cultural wedge issue between the two main parties heading toward the 2024 presidential elections.
According to the Post Millennial, Higgs told reporters that he will not change the new policy because he is “taking a strong position for families.”
One “woke” teacher in training complained about the policy in a TikTok video, where she said children will be “outed” to their parents.
Woke teacher-in-training has a meltdown at the prospect of not being able to hide if a child under 16 is transitioning to another gender from their parents in New Brunswick.
— Cosmin Dzsurdzsa 🇷🇴 (@cosminDZS) June 10, 2023
Tell me this is not a cult. pic.twitter.com/8Vfh5lsf8n
“I don’t know if I want to leave this province and go somewhere else. I don’t want to out students. I know how dangerous this type of s*** is,” she said in the video while crying.
However, a new poll found that 57 percent of Canadians said they agreed that schools should make parents aware of their child’s gender identity and pronouns at school, according to Canadian outlet True North.
On Twitter, Higgs said that Trudeau and other politicians “don’t believe parents need be involved in such critical discussions as gender identity, even in children as young as 4.
“In New Brunswick, we’ll have a safe learning environment & better mental health supports, while still respecting the parent’s role,” he added.
Susan Holt & Justin Trudeau don’t believe parents need be involved in such critical discussions as gender identity, even in children as young as 4.
— Blaine Higgs (@premierbhiggs) June 10, 2023
In New Brunswick, we’ll have a safe learning environment & better mental health supports, while still respecting the parent’s role. pic.twitter.com/WWDK8ID9Mw