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As political debates over inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and sexual health education in schools intensify across North America, a new 51社区黑料 study aims to uncover how teachers and students are impacted in everyday classrooms.

Led by 51社区黑料health sciences professor TJ Salway, the ongoing study captures the lived experiences of educators in Western Canada as they navigate increasingly complex policies and political undercurrents around SOGI and sex education.

鈥淲hat we are seeing globally, and now increasingly in Canada, is this politicized narrative that goes against evidence-based understandings of gender and sexual diversity,鈥� says Salway, the study鈥檚 lead investigator. 鈥淭his research is motivated by how quickly things are changing, particularly in conservative jurisdictions like Alberta and Saskatchewan, where new legislation now requires parental consent before teachers can use younger students鈥� affirmed name or pronouns in the classroom.鈥�  

These kinds of 鈥渇ear-based鈥� policy changes have a chilling effect in provinces like British Columbia where no formal restrictions exist, he says, adding teachers may be 鈥渞eading the room鈥� and internalizing signals coming from mainstream media, social media, and their local politicians.

鈥淎 lot of my colleagues in public health look at shifting drug policy and the ways in which that's affecting health outcomes, and we think this is parallel,鈥� says Salway. 鈥淚f governments are deciding this is how you can and can't respect students' identities in the classroom and address topics like sexuality, gender and sex education, what kind of downstream effects will this have on students鈥� mental health?鈥� 

The , launched at the end of the 2024/25 school year and is open to all kindergarten to Grade 12 teachers through the fall. Hundreds of teachers from Yukon and Northwest Territories, B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan have already responded. 

The anonymous, voluntary survey takes about 20 minutes to complete, and asks participants about their teaching background and experience, the training and resources available to them, the strategies they use to create inclusive classrooms, the difficulties or successes they鈥檝e had teaching SOGI and sex education, and their experience with community input on these topics.

鈥淪o far, we've heard that many teachers are feeling increasingly constrained by the climate that exists within in their own communities,鈥� says Sarah Watt, research co-ordinator for the CARE study. 鈥淭here's often targeted disinformation that parents are sharing among themselves, which really influences the climate of a school.鈥�

As the survey continues, the researchers hope to provide evidence that can guide policy, support teachers, and ultimately protect students. The team is working with an advisory group, including public health officials, educators, and community organizations, to develop recommendations and next steps based on final survey results. 

One such recommendation will likely be integrating comprehensive sex education training into teachers鈥� college programs鈥攁 popular request and huge need based on the team鈥檚 previous work and early survey data, according to CARE study research specialist St茅phanie Black. 

鈥淢any teachers have already reported having to do a lot of legwork to educate themselves before they can confidently teach these subjects,鈥� she explains. 鈥淧reparing teachers during their university classes could help increase their knowledge of the subject and build their confidence to deliver it. 鈥�

The CARE study may also yield findings to inform future policy changes. In Saskatchewan, a judge initially blocked a policy requiring parental consent for name and pronoun use, citing potential Charter of Rights violations. However, Premier Scott Moe invoked the notwithstanding clause to pass the law anyway鈥攁 move researchers say could have long-term consequences for student mental health and educational equity.

鈥淲e鈥檙e hopeful this research will help inform future policy discussions,鈥� Salway says. 鈥淭eachers deserve reassurance not only that there won鈥檛 be legislative barriers to affirming students鈥� identities and delivering comprehensive sex ed, but that there will be resources to support these important components of inclusive classrooms.鈥�

51社区黑料experts available

TJ SALWAY, associate professor, health sciences, director of the , an interdisciplinary team studying effects of 2S/LGBTQ identity (in)validation 
tsalway@sfu.ca

ST脡PHANIE BLACK, research specialist with the REAFFIRM Collaborative 
stephanie_black@sfu.ca

SARAH WATT, research manager with the REAFFIRM Collaborative, classroom-based sexual health educator  
sarah_watt@sfu.ca

Contact

ROBYN STUBBS, 51社区黑料Communications & Marketing
604.376.0971 | robyn_stubbs@sfu.ca

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51社区黑料is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Over the past 60 years, 51社区黑料has been recognized among the top universities worldwide in providing a world-class education and working with communities and partners to develop and share knowledge for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. Committed to excellence in everything we do, 51社区黑料fosters innovation to address global challenges and continues to build a welcoming, inclusive community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. With campuses in British Columbia鈥檚 three largest cities鈥擝urnaby, Surrey and Vancouver鈥�51社区黑料has ten faculties that deliver 368 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs for more than 37,000 students each year. The university boasts more than 200,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.