Queer students have the right to be included in school activities equally, in the same way as all other students. This right sometimes appears explicitly in policies and laws, and in CCLA’s view, is also grounded in section 15 of the Charter, the right to equality and the right to be free from discrimination.
Inclusion in school activities can be particularly important for trans and non-binary students when faced with gender-segregated school activities, like sports. Some provinces or school boards have specific policies that allow the inclusion of trans students to participate in gender-segregated school activities in accordance with their gender identity. For example:
- Guidelines from Manitoba’s Ministry of Education and Training say that “[a]ll students, regardless of their gender identity or expression, should be able to participate in physical education classes and extracurricular activities, including competitive and recreational athletic teams, in a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment. Trans and gender diverse students have the right to participate in such classes and activities in ways that are safe and comfortable and consistent with their gender identity.”
- Nova Scotia’s Guidelines for Supporting Transgender and Gender-nonconforming Students explains that: “A student’s self-identification is the sole measure of the student’s gender identity. It is not acceptable to require a transgender or gender-nonconforming student to participate in activities based on sex assigned at birth or status of medical transition.”
- In supporting trans students’ right to participate in sports and P.E. classes, the Toronto District School Board’s policy notes that “It is not an acceptable accommodation to deny a student the opportunity for physical education,” such as by forcing trans students to choose an independent study, or not allowing them to take P.E.
