A Few Highlights of PE Gender Diversity Guidelines:

Sports Participation:

Trans swimmer Lia Thomas competes against females.

“A student’s Self Identification is the sole measure of their gender identity.” Any student may participate fully and safely in gender designated sport activities in accordance with their lived gender identity or preference (for non-binary and gender-fluid students.)

In accordance with PEISAA’s policies, transgender and non-binary students can try out for the team that best aligns with their lived gender. Transgender and non-binary students will choose between either the girls’ teams or boys’ teams for the duration of the season for all of the sports they participate in, if selected to play. This gives students a choice of one gendered team, per sport, per year (e.g., they can’t play on both the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams), but not to hold them to a single gender across different sports (e.g., they may play girls’ soccer and boys’ basketball)

Lodging:

Activities that may involve the need for lodging, housing or billeting accommodations: 

 Accommodation can look many different ways: – A single-stall bathroom – Privacy curtains in change rooms – Staggering access times to change facilities – Allowing a student to leave/arrive early or late to access facilities privately addressed on a case-by-case basis in collaboration with the student(s) affected. Schools must make every reasonable effort to provide accommodations that are acceptable to the student(s). If for reasons of privacy or safety, a transgender or gender nonconforming student objects to gender-separated accommodations or shared accommodations, private accommodations should be made available to the student.

Although most schools have separate washrooms and change/locker rooms for males and females, students must be permitted to use the facility that corresponds to their gender identity, regardless of their sex assigned at birth. Having gender inclusive facilities is a positive step, but a transgender student should not be required to use a separate facility or be segregated. If creating an alternative space is necessary to protect the student’s privacy or for safety reasons, it should be done in consultation with the student. To ensure all students feel safe, schools can communicate clear behaviour expectations, increase adult presence and supervision and monitor key areas and grounds.

The guidelines around access to washrooms and change/locker rooms also apply while students are off school grounds at a school sponsored activity. It is best for the schools to be proactive in planning for such outings. If staff or a student is concerned that travel to another site could pose an issue, the school should, in consultation and with the consent of the student, contact the other site in advance to ensure the student has access to facilities that are appropriate and safe in accordance with the student’s gender identity.  

Respecting a person’s right to self-identification

An individual’s self-identification is the sole measure of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. All individuals have the right to be addressed by their chosen name and to choose pronouns that align with their gender identity and/or gender expression. This is true whether the individual had obtained legal documentation of a change of name or gender designation (e.g. birth certificate). Further, verification of identity, such as medical records, is not required. Some individuals may not feel included in the use of the pronouns “he” or “she” and may prefer alternate pronouns, such as “they” or “them” or might wish to express themselves or self-identify in other ways (i.e., Mx. instead of Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss or no prefix at all). Using staff and students’ chosen names and pronouns is an important way to establish norms of respect. 

Not all students with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations have ‘come out’ to their family, friends or the general public. This can be due to safety concerns or for other reasons. Gender identity and sexual orientation are personal information and it’s important to consider a student’s readiness to disclose their identity and respect their personal coming out process.

In keeping with the principles of self identification, it is important for staff to: 

•  protect a student’s personal information and privacy, including, having a student’s explicit permission before disclosing information related to the student’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression to peers, parents/guardians or other adults in their lives.
•   inform students of limits regarding their chosen name and gender identity or gender expression in relation to official school records that require legal name designations;  
• support students to correct peers when mistakes are made. Staff will make every effort to communicate and collaborate with students of diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations to find ways to feel safe at school; and  
• make every effort to educate students on a basic understanding of sexual and gender diversity. Staff will introduce themselves to their classes using pronouns, enabling students to self-identify their own pronouns and/or names.

Maintaining school records in a way that respects privacy and confidentiality

Indicators of this best practice in action:  

• Students are addressed by the name(s) and pronouns(s) that they have chosen to correspond to their gender identity; 
•  When requested by the student, school staff ensure the consistent use of the student’s chosen name(s) and pronoun(s) on school-issued documents such as report cards and other school correspondence; and  
• Schools adopt practices to avoid inadvertently disclosing the student’s gender identity or expression when required to use or report a gender diverse student’s legal name. Full Document Here: