A legal challenge to SaskatchewanB次元官网网址檚 new law requiring parental consent if children under 16 want to change their names or pronouns at school is back in court this week. New Brunswick enacted a similar measure last year, and other provinces are looking at doing the same.

Lawyers representing UR Pride, an LGBT group in Regina, say the rule discriminates against youth who arenB次元官网网址檛 able to come out to their families. The Saskatchewan and New Brunswick governments have said they made the changes after hearing from many parents that they want them.

Saskatchewan used the notwithstanding clause, a rarely used provision that lets governments override Charter rights for five years, to prevent the court challenge from proceeding.

The Canadian Press sent reporters across the country to talk to parents about the issue.

Krystle Wilpert, Calgary

The mother of a four- and seven-year-old said children should have the choice when they are that little.

B次元官网网址淓ven with their name, sometimes they shorten their given name,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚f they are actually wanting to legally change it, then parents should be advised.

B次元官网网址淲hen they are this little, if you want to be known as she, they, he, thatB次元官网网址檚 part of their identity, I think, and figuring out what they prefer.

B次元官网网址淚f you want to legally change it when youB次元官网网址檙e of age, thatB次元官网网址檚 a different story.B次元官网网址�

Wilpert, whoB次元官网网址檚 a teacher, said parents need to have strong relationships with their children.

B次元官网网址淚f the parents have a great relationship with the school and with their child, it probably wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be an issue.B次元官网网址�

She said it would be awkward if Alberta were to bring in a similar policy to Saskatchewan.

B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e a classroom teacher, having to phone a parent to say, B次元官网网址業s it OK if I call your child they?B次元官网网址� It creates awkwardness and it doesnB次元官网网址檛 build that relationship that kids need to feel safe and secure when they are growing up.B次元官网网址�

Nicolas Brizard, Montreal

The father of girls age three, five, 10 and 12, said he hadnB次元官网网址檛 previously thought about whether parents should be notified B次元官网网址� or asked for their consent B次元官网网址� if children want to change their name or pronouns at school.

He said itB次元官网网址檚 not something that has been the subject of widespread debate in Quebec.

Brizard said young people start really searching for their identity around the age of 14, but the idea that they could change their name or gender identity without parental permission before the age of 16 B次元官网网址渋s a bit difficult.B次元官网网址�

Even if parental consent isnB次元官网网址檛 required, he said he thinks parents should be notified.

B次元官网网址淭hey donB次元官网网址檛 always have the necessary tools to make these decisions by themselves,B次元官网网址� Brizard said in French.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes theyB次元官网网址檝e had bad experiences, sometimes good experiences, but itB次元官网网址檚 a major decision, so you need to have the necessary tools to reflect in order to make this change.B次元官网网址�

Angela Campbell, Rothesay, N.B.

Campbell said her child was assigned female at birth, but is now gender fluid and uses the pronoun they.

B次元官网网址淥nce puberty hit, they started experiencing anxiety and depression,B次元官网网址� said Campbell, whose child turns 20 this week.

B次元官网网址淚t took a long time to sort of get to the root of what was going on. It turned out to be gender identity was the root of the problem.B次元官网网址�

She said her child found support from teachers and guidance counsellors at school, and is grateful they were there.

School and teachers offer a practice run for the real world in a safe space, and changes made by New Brunswick remove that, she said.

B次元官网网址淚t would be wonderful and very utopian of us to think that home is always the safest place for children to be able to go and have these conversations, but thatB次元官网网址檚 not the reality.B次元官网网址�

Jose Henriquez, Vancouver

The father said he would be supportive if one of his two sons wanted to use a different name or pronoun at school, but he would want to know about the change beforehand.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 my child. You know, we donB次元官网网址檛 own our kids, but we raise them up in the way that we think is right,B次元官网网址� said Henriquez, with his eight- and nine-year-old sons chatting together nearby.

B次元官网网址淚 think if they want to do something like that, they should come to the mom and dad first.B次元官网网址�

ThatB次元官网网址檚 especially true for younger children, Henriquez said.

B次元官网网址淲hen theyB次元官网网址檙e really young like this, I donB次元官网网址檛 think they even know what theyB次元官网网址檙e wanting,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚f these guys are older, and he says to me something like that, then IB次元官网网址檝e got no choice, he can do what he wants.B次元官网网址�

Still, Henriquez said heB次元官网网址檇 want to be the first person to have that talk with his child.

B次元官网网址淎s a good parent, you support them because theyB次元官网网址檙e your child and you love them, you know, and you donB次元官网网址檛 outcast them.B次元官网网址�

Jonathan Rambo, Toronto

The father of three strongly believes parental consent should be required before a student under 16 wishes to change their pronoun or gendered name.

He said children at that age arenB次元官网网址檛 developed enough to make those decisions for themselves.

B次元官网网址淭hey still havenB次元官网网址檛 reached that maturity level to be changing names,B次元官网网址� he said

Rambo has a daughter in Grade 10, a son in Grade 8, and a son in Grade 2 B次元官网网址� all ages at which they are still very impressionable, he said.

B次元官网网址淟ike, my daughter, from my experience, she is still going through a whole bunch of friends,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淪o if she gets with a group of friends, and they could say, B次元官网网址極h letB次元官网网址檚 change our names,B次元官网网址� but later on she might outgrow that group of friends. ItB次元官网网址檚 still not for sure if thatB次元官网网址檚 what sheB次元官网网址檚 going to want in the future. SheB次元官网网址檚 still learning in life.B次元官网网址�

Rambo said that even if parents arenB次元官网网址檛 required to give consent, they should at least be informed when a child decides to use a different name or pronoun at school.

B次元官网网址淚 would like to know if my daughter changes her name. I could be calling her Heather and her name is Mary the next day. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 a big joke. Let kids be young, let them get used to their name.B次元官网网址�

Amanda Stajniak, Glenavon, Sask.

Stajniak lives on a farm about 100 kilometres east of Regina and has children aged 11, nine, eight, four and two.

The mother said parents should be required to give consent if their children want to change their names or pronouns at school.

B次元官网网址淚 think parents should totally be involved, as much as possible in everything. I think itB次元官网网址檚 a good thing,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淚f they are having any feelings, I want them to come to me first. They do spend a lot of time with the teachers, but I would hope that they would come to me first.B次元官网网址�

Stajniak said in her community, everyone knows each other.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not much of a big deal in smaller towns,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淓verybody kind of knows everybodyB次元官网网址檚 stuff. If thereB次元官网网址檚 any kids that are going through anything, the kids come home and tell us about it.B次元官网网址�

The mother said she didnB次元官网网址檛 think about pronouns or name changes before Saskatchewan implemented the parental consent requirement.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know someone could change their name at school. If my kids were being called something else, I would know, right?B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� By Colette Derworiz in Calgary, Jacob Serebrin in Montreal, Hina Alam in Fredericton, Brenna Owen in Vancouver, Alex Gheciu in Toronto and Jeremy Simes in Regina

The Canadian Press