FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4 Sep, 2025
KJIPUKTUK (HALIFAX, NS) – As students across Nova Scotia return to school, 2SLGBTQIA+ youth face yet another academic year without updated Guidelines for Supporting Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students. These guidelines, now over a decade old, fail to reflect the current realities and necessary protections, including the bans on conversion practices legislated both provincially and federally. This gap leaves 2SLGBTQIA+ students vulnerable in environments where they should feel safe and supported.
The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) has long advocated for the rights and well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ children and youth. In 2022, the NSCSW co-signed an interprofessional open letter sent to then-Minister Becky Druhan, urging the government to update these critical guidelines. Despite assurances that updates were forthcoming, no action has been taken. This inaction puts children and youth at risk of harm and undermines the ability of social workers in schools to provide safe and ethical services.
“Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and affirmed in their school environment,” said Alec Stratford, Executive Director and Registrar of the NSCSW. “The outdated guidelines fail to reflect the protections now enshrined in law, leaving 2SLGBTQIA+ students at risk of discrimination and harm. It’s time for the government to act and ensure that schools are places where all children can thrive.”
Recent reports highlight the inconsistent application of the existing guidelines across schools, sometimes with disastrous consequences. For example, some schools have restricted access to gender-neutral bathrooms, citing unrelated concerns, which directly impacts the rights and dignity of 2SLGBTQIA+ students. These inconsistencies, coupled with a lack of first-voice representation in decision-making, perpetuate harm and discrimination.
Robert Wright, President of the NSCSW, emphasized the urgency of this issue: “The failure to update these guidelines is not just a policy gap—it’s a failure of leadership in the face of increasing persecution of members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Schools must be places where every child, regardless of their gender identity or expression, feels safe and supported. The government’s delay in addressing this issue puts children at risk and undermines the principles of equity and justice.”
The NSCSW, alongside community groups and the public, has called on the provincial government to act now. We need updated guidelines that align with the bans on conversion practices and reflect the Yogyakarta Principles. These updates must ensure that every 2SLGBTQIA+ student can learn in a safe, supportive, and affirming environment.
We urge the government to:
- Update the Guidelines for Supporting Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Studentsto reflect current legislation and best practices.
- Ensure first-voice representation from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in all decision-making processes affecting children and youth.
- Launch Nova Scotia’s long-awaited Child and Youth Commission to provide an independent avenue for children to voice their concerns and protect their rights.
No child should fear being unsupported or subjected to harmful practices in their school. It’s time to prioritize the safety, dignity, and well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ students.
-30-
About us:
The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers serves and protects Nova Scotians by effectively regulating the profession of social work. We work in solidarity with Nova Scotians to advocate for policies that improve social conditions, challenge injustice, and value diversity.
For more information or to arrange interviews with NSCSW spokespersons, contact: Rebecca Faria, communication coordinator for NSCSW (902-429-7799 ext. 227, [email protected]).