preferred pronouns, preferred names, support, parents, acceptance, legal action, human rights code, teacher protection, classroom environment, discretion, respect, community resources, timing, TG Innerselves
Vincent: The questions I receive from teachers, it’s not questions like why should I use these pronouns or why should I support these kids. It’s more, I really want to support these kids, I really want to use the names and pronouns. Am I protected using them when the parents call in and say what the hell are you doing? Because we have kids in the system whose teachers accept them and affirm them one hundred percent, but are getting angry phone calls from parents saying, how dare you call my child this, and threatening legal action, and the teachers are scared.
Vincent: And I say to them, you are protected. You are protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code, because that child has the right, and it is your classroom. You are the one in charge in that room. So regardless of what the parents say, you are doing the right thing. Now, don’t send anything home with that name and pronoun on it, if it’s going to put that child in danger.
Vincent: Use, use some discretion there.
Vincent: But in your classroom, that is your environment. And the relief that they can still respect their students and affirm their students like that. Um, we also use the school sometimes as a place to, to be that go-between, to be that neutral space where parents can meet with us, and where students can meet with us. For example, if a student is in a situation where there is no way their parents are going to drive them to our office for an appointment, and they’re not ready to have that conversation with their parents, or it’s not a good time to come out to their parents, we can meet them at school.