Awareness is not enough
It’s Transgender Awareness week from Nov 13-19th and with all the pushback against gender inclusion in schools across Canada, it feels especially important to show support for trans and non-binary folks who may be struggling.
Sadly, we know that anti-LGBTQIA2+ rhetoric has been on the rise globally. Since 2021 bills targeting gender-affirming care more than doubled across the United States, forcing affected families to relocate. In Canada the conversation has recently centered around outing children to their parents when they use a different gender, chosen-name or pronoun at school . These policies have been implemented in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, with heated discussions happening across Manitoba and Ontario. On September 20th conservative, religious and parent groups protested across the country under the banner “1 Million March for Children”, a smokescreen tactic claiming to protect children from “indoctrination and sexualization” but in fact disguising homophobic and transphobic rhetoric that puts the safety and agency of youth in jeopardy.
Witnessing these events happening in our own communities is a heavy reality to face, especially when many consider Canada to be a haven for LGBTQIA2+ rights, compared to our neighbors to the south. But considering the devastating impact on trans and non-binary people trying to live authentically in our own backyard is also a wakeup call to act.
Folks across Canada have taken action by joining counter protests led by queer groups like the 519 in Toronto, as well as queer and trans supporting parents, teachers and allies, aiming to safeguard children from inflammatory messages and support their choices. For many kids, learning about gender identity and sexual orientation in school allows them the freedom to explore their identity in a safe space that they may not have at home.
Children in Ontario learn about gender identity in grade 8 (ages 13-14), and sexual orientation in grade 5 (ages 10-11) which was updated when the Ford government revamped the sexual education curriculum in 2019. Parents currently have the option to exempt children from learning about these topics, which many vocal protestors label as “ideology”.
Annie Kidder, executive director of People for Education, a non-profit focused on public education, spoke to the CBC about why context around the Ontario curriculum is important especially considering it was developed in consultation with health, mental health and well-being experts. She points to research indicating , "that it was important that kids learned about things like gender identity … as early as possible so that they understand themselves before they may be suddenly facing questions or confusion about what was going on with their body or in their minds or in their feelings about themselves."
When you consider the struggles that trans youth face, it becomes clear how imperative gender affirming schools may be . A study conducted by the University of Ottawa in 2022 revealed that trans youth are five time more likely to have thought about suicide than cisgender peers and 7.6 time more likely to have attempted suicide. It’s obvious that exclusionary policies can have a fatal impact and the weight of these messages cannot be ignored.
Much like the right to abortion, we want to echo the sentiments of the 519 in their counter protest credo, “The movement for 2SLGBTQ+ liberation is centered on the fact that we have a right to self-expression and bodily autonomy.” Respecting a person’s pronouns, their chosen name or gender presentation are important steps we can take to fully meet an individual exactly where they are.
At Choice in Health we offer compassionate, gender affirming care because we recognize that acknowledging a person’s identity and agency can have a huge impact on their mental and physical well-being. Ultimately this is a human rights issue, and a simple one.