School board trustees approved an amended version of a gender-identity policy during a public board meeting in Edson, March 16.
Grande Yellowhead Public School Division鈥檚 amended policy was approved by a 5-2 vote, but not before some heated discussion.
According to news reports, there was a vigorous debate about the issue of gender-neutral bathrooms and whether to keep an amended section of the policy.
According to the approved policy, which is now in the hands of the minister of education for final consideration, students who do not want to use facilities that identify with their biological sex should use a gender-neutral single occupancy bathroom.
This would eliminate the ability of transgendered youth to use the washroom of their choice.
Betsy DeClercq, the school board trustee for Jasper, was one of the three trustees who opposed adding the amendment. She argued that forcing transgendered teens to use a separate bathroom would help identify them and only make their lives harder.聽 聽
According to local news reports, during the meeting DeClercq said she would rather adopt the original wording of the document, which simply stated students should have access to a gender-neutral facility with proper signage. She explained that while it鈥檚 ambiguous, it gives students the option to use the washroom of their choice.
She declined to be interviewed during a follow up telephone call March 28, but said she supported the board鈥檚 final decision.
Trustees also voted to eliminate the policy鈥檚 glossary of terms, which defined everything from ally to two-spirit, creating more ambiguity as to what each term means.
Brenda Rosadiuk, board chair for GYPSD, did not return a phone call for comment.聽
School board鈥檚 across the province received guidelines in mid-January to create a policy that would protect LQBTQ students from harassment and discrimination by March 31. After reviewing the first draft of the policy in February, trustees met with parents to get feedback before voting on the final policy March 16. David Eggen, the minister of education, has not set a date for when he will make his decision on the policies.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
