The Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench granted intervener status for the Gender Dysphoria Alliance (GDA) and Parents for Choice in Education (PCE), with the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) representing the two organizations..The University of Regina Pride Centre for Sexuality Gender Diversity (UR Pride) is seeking to challenge the Saskatchewan Parental Consent Policy (PCP), which mandates schools must obtain parental consent before altering the name and gender of children under the age of 16..The hearing has been scheduled for November 20-21, 2023..On September 19, 2023, there was a full-day hearing regarding UR Pride's application for a court order to temporarily halt the implementation of the PCP in Saskatchewan schools until a final decision is reached regarding its constitutionality..The Court had previously rejected three requests for an immediate pause of the PCP and is currently deciding on a final request for a pause..“The joint submissions of Gender Dysphoria Alliance and Parents for Choice in Education is based on the foundational principle children’s constitutional rights are protected by the informed involvement of their parents,” said Andre Memauri, legal counsel for GDA and PCE..“The Court is facing the argument that requiring schools to have parents’ consent before changing the name and gender of their children violates the constitutional rights of those children.”.“Such an outcome would be harmful to the parent-child and parent-school relationship, and ultimately would undermine the security of the children in this vulnerable group,” said Memauri..“Only in rare exceptions can excluding parents be justified. Allowing it to be the rule ignores the general fact that parents act in the best interests of their own children.”.Parents for Choice in Education (PCE) is a “non-sectarian, not-for-profit citizens’ advocacy organization dedicated to informing, equipping and mobilizing parents toward an excellent, quality-oriented, choice-driven education system which recognizes the right of children to be protected by their own parents.” .Over its 11-year history, PCE has offered resources to assist numerous parents and families in advocating for their children within the education system.."We are aware that harm to children, particularly those with existing mental and emotional challenges, has resulted from school staff addressing issues of gender and sexuality without proper parental involvement,” said John Hilton-O'Brien, executive director of PCE..Hilton-O'Brien said his organization believes "the greatest allies and protectors of children are their own parents.".Gender Dysphoria Alliance (GDA) was “formed in 2021 by two Canadian transmen motivated to correct the narrative about gender dysphoria with concern about errant information in the healthcare and education systems that can negatively impact women, children and the LGB community.” .GDA is led by Executive Director Aaron Kimberly, a Canadian mental health clinician with expertise in providing care to transgender and gender-questioning individuals..“As an organization lead by transsexual adults, Gender Dysphoria Alliance believes that departures from sound evidence about gender dysphoria have led to missteps in policy and healthcare in ways that are harmful to persons with gender dysphoria and society generally,” said Kimberly..“The social transition of children without clinical or parental oversight is one such misstep. Social transition is a clinical intervention that isn’t appropriate for every child with gender dysphoria due to the multifaceted, multi-causal, and often transitory nature of Childhood Onset Gender Dysphoria.” .“Premature or inappropriate social transition has the potential to concretize gender dysphoria in ways that lead to the medicalization of individuals who would have resolved their cross-sex identification developmentally, without medical interventions,” said Kimberly..“Parents have an irreplaceable role in understanding possible underlying causes of gender dysphoria and/or transgender identity in their children. Their involvement and the oversight of competent clinicians, is crucial to protecting the child’s best interests."."Studies have shown good child-parent relationships are the leading indicator of a child’s emotional and psychological well-being. Conflicts between parents and their kids about matters such as identity and sexuality are opportunities to work with the family unit, to improve understanding and connection.”
