QUEBEC CITY — A Montreal schoolteacher has filed a lawsuit in the Quebec Superior Court challenging a school board policy that requires educators to keep students’ gender identity transitions confidential from their parents. The teacher alleges that the policy violates her constitutional rights and creates an ethical conflict between school staff and families. To ensure the safety and privacy of the individuals involved, the court has currently withheld the teacher’s identity from public records.
According to the legal filing, the teacher claims she was pressured by school authorities to hide information regarding students’ gender identities from their guardians. She further alleges that she faced threats of termination if she failed to comply with these directives. The lawsuit specifically challenges a 2021 provincial educational guideline that allows students to change their names and pronouns within the school environment without requiring parental consent or notification.
While the teacher argues that the current policy infringes upon her freedom of expression and her professional duty to be transparent with parents, the government maintains that protecting student privacy and safety is the paramount concern. The court is also considering a request to keep the names of witnesses confidential as the proceedings move forward. A ruling on the matter is expected to be delivered within the coming weeks.
