School board considers request for gender-neutral washrooms, changing rooms

The Hanover School Board is looking at a parent’s request for gender-neutral washrooms and changing rooms. 

A presentation was made this week where the parent expressed concern about how their child was impacted by having a student who identifies as a boy enter the boys changing room at school to change their clothes for Phys. Ed. 

SteinbachOnline is not publishing the name of the concerned parent to help protect the identity of the students involved. 

The board heard that this parent’s son was among a group of boys who were in the middle of changing clothes when another student entered the room to also change their clothes. 

“If we’re being so inclusive and turning our backs on every kid like my son because he knows there’s a difference between a boy and a girl, what then? Where does their place come in?”  

The parent provided details of the situation and expressed concern about how this impacted their son. 

“My boy came home, very uncomfortable, that’s how we found out that there was a girl in the change room, him and his buddies were uncomfortable...” 

The board heard of the steps taken by the parent in an effort to resolve this concern, such as communicating with the school’s principal, who suggested that students who are uncomfortable in such situations can access the changing stalls or other washrooms. 

Trustees were encouraged by the parent to consider providing gender-neutral washrooms and changing rooms to avoid such situations. 

“It’s not about making the other kid feel unvalued, absolutely not. They can have their own place, just like my kid can have their own place. To me, that seems like a compromise, it seems like a reasonable compromise. It's not about throwing other kids away, absolutely not.” 

Board Chair Brad Unger appreciates hearing from parents. 

“I think it takes courage to come before the board,” he says. 

The Hanover School Division’s website outlines preferred problem-solving steps for parents who have concerns, and Unger notes this parent followed those steps. 

“One of the things that I appreciate is the fact that we have a process like this available, so that parents always know, talk to the teacher, talk to the principal, talk to the Superintendent, but they always know at the end of the day, if they still have the concerns, they haven't been answered, they can bring (the concerns forwards) as a delegation to the board and that we have a mechanism in place for that.” 

Unger says the concern will be discussed at the board level and there will be follow-up communication with the parent.