Gender diversity

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On this page

• For students
• For adults
• For school staff

What is gender identity?

Gender Identity is the internal and psychological sense of oneself as a woman, a man, both, in between, or neither. Gender identity is unique to each individual and is not determined by sex or defined by sexual orientation. For many people, their gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. This is referred to as cisgender. For others, their gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth.

Gender-diverse is an inclusive term used to refer to multiple types of gender identities that fall outside cisgender and/or binary understandings of gender.

When you are transgender, also known as trans, your gender identity doesn't match the sex that you were assigned at birth (usually male or female).

Non-binary is an umbrella term referring to people whose gender does not fall within the binary gender system of woman/girl or man/boy. Some individuals identify as non-binary while others may use terms such a gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or agender.

For people who are trans or non-binary, some may know from a young age that the gender they have been assigned doesn’t fit with who they really are. Other people come to this realization later in life.

Sexual orientation and gender identity are not the same thing. Everyone has both a gender identity and a sexual orientation. Like anybody, trans people may identify as straight, pansexual, queer, asexual, bisexual, lesbian, gay or something else. 

Human rights

All people have the right to be free from discrimination based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. This right is protected by Article 2 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Acts, and the B.C. Human Rights Code.

The B.C. Human Rights Code protects B.C. students from discrimination based on Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age.

Every school in B.C. should be a place where every student feels welcome, safe and included. 

Students

Adults

Parents, guardians, and caregivers instill values at home. Schools provide learning opportunities to foster safe, inclusive, and caring, learning environments for all students. While parents and caregivers are the first teachers in their children’s lives, they are also active participants in the learning that happens in schools. Learning about gender diversity in an age-appropriate manner helps youth to understand and respect differences.

Throughout the K-12 curriculum and school activities, students and teachers explore the topic of human rights and:

• What it means to value diversity and respect differences
• How to respond to discrimination

You can reach out to your child’s teacher, principal, or school district if you have questions about gender diversity learning in the classroom.

School staff

Gender inclusive classrooms

Including sexual orientation and gender diversity in school codes of conduct and anti-bullying policies improves the school climate for 2SLGBTQIA+ students by reducing discrimination and harassment. 

Teachers may include the B.C. Human Rights Code, sexual orientation, and gender diversity in classroom discussions.

Being gender inclusive in the classroom means:

• Speaking about gender identity in a way that makes every student feel like they belong
• Not limiting a person's potential based on their biological sex and how they understand or express their gender
• Welcoming everyone without discrimination, regardless of their gender identity