Schools' gender identity policy sparks debate in Vancouver

The Vancouver School Board got a mixed reception to plans to change its sexual orientation and gender identity policy at a packed public meeting Wednesday night.

Dozens of students and parents filled the board's meeting room, as they heardfrom 35 speakers on the new policy, which would discouragesex-segregated activities and allow transgender students touse whatever washroom they wanted.

Opponents argue the board is trying to ram the changes through without speaking to enough parents, but advocates say the policy will better protect and support transgenderstudents and staff.

Roan Reimer, a 17-year-old student at Vancouver Technical Secondary School anda queer and gender varying individual, was the first person to speak at the meeting.

"I can tell you about being taunted, and yelled at and spat on when we try to use the washroom that doesn't correspond to our gender identity," saidReimer.

Reimer described how thatlevel of hatred made studying difficult, and how getting around the current school rules became a regular pastime.

"Ispent months using only the washroom in the basement of my school where no one ever goes. I would sneak into it, making sure that no one would see me, just so I wouldn't get yelled at for using the 'wrong'washroom."

The board has had a policy since 2004 to support a positive learning environment forstudents and staff who identifyas lesbian, gay,bisexual, transgender andgender queeror questioning (commonly shortened toLGBTQ+).

The proposed changes extend this policy sostudents are addressed by the name and pronoun that corresponds to their gender identity anda gender-neutral washroom is provided at all Vancouver schools andworksites.

Parents concerned

Some parents think the School Board may be going too far and thinkparents should have a greater say.

Cheryl Chang,chair of the Parent Advisory Council for Lord ByngSecondary School,believes students'gender identityis a medical issue that should not be addressed at school.

"It is inappropriate for teachers to be writing up a policy without having approval by the B.C. College of Physicians and CollegeofPsychologists," said Chang.

Chang is frustrated with the public hearings and wants better consultation from the board.

"We're talking about meaningful conversation with parents and the medical and mental health professions. This is not meaningful conversation. This is politics of division, it's getting people upset and angry."

A second nightof public input will be heldon May 22. A decision is not expected until June.