Statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2024
At a moment where we are seeing premiers playing politics with the lives of gender diverse students, it is critical to take every action possible to protect the safety and well-being of 2SLGBTQI young people.
Today’s decision from the Supreme Court of Canada aligns with Egale Canada’s position that students should benefit from protections at school under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the Charter).
Egale intervened in this York Region District School Board v. Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario on appeal before the Supreme Court in order to share our expertise on 2SLGBTQI people and issues with the court. Egale argued that the Charter does and must apply because school boards exercise governmental power over students’ lives.
2SLGBTQI young people are a particularly vulnerable population who continue to face marginalization and discrimination. Today’s decision confirms that they benefit from Charter protections and is an important step in ensuring safer school environments for all young people.
To learn more about the case, visit York Region District School Board v. Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.
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Representatives from Egale Canada are available for further comment on this matter. To schedule an interview please email: media@egale.ca.
Egale Canada has launched the Rainbow Action Hub – a one-stop shop for the why and how to combat the rise of anti-2SLGBTQI hate in Canada. The hub includes resources, tools, education, and information aimed at 2SLGBTQI organizations, advocates and activists.