Gender Identity and Expression
By far the most controversial topic in public education, leading to the gathering of thousands for the Million Man March for Children in 2023 and the growth of private schools and homeschooling within Windsor.
Read the history and current developments of GECDSB Regulation R-AD-65 which began with keeping gender identity secrets from parents and has already advanced to allowing males in female washrooms, changerooms and sports.
The newly released “Gender Identity and Gender Expression in Schools” Operational Procedure authorizes male students to access female washrooms, change rooms, sports teams, and overnight accommodations. It also directs teachers and staff not to inform parents—whether of the male student or the affected female students—because the Procedure places a strong emphasis on “student privacy.”
GECDSB Gender Identity & Expression History
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Regulation R-AD-65
Published 06-22-2021, this Regulation created a process for students of all ages to request an "Accommodation" for a change of name, pronouns and gender. School staff are instructed to conceal the child's alternate persona from parents unless given permission by the child.
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Public Consultation
February 2025, GECDSB opened a public portal for feedback to a revision to Regulation R-AD-65 which would allow males into female spaces, including washrooms, change-rooms, sports and overnight sleeping accommodations.
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GECDSB Policy & Bylaw Committee
April 1, 2025 the Committee received the updated R-AD-65 document from Superintendent Dr. Clara Howitt under the guise that the public consultation yielded "some" opposition and "significant" support. The committee approved the revised Regulation and recommended it to the full Board for approval and implementation.
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GECDSB Board Meeting
April 15, 2025 the full Board of Trustees received the revised R-AD-65 document for their approval without the feedback from the public consultation. After much debate, a motion was made and carried to refer the Regulation back to the committee.
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FOIA Results - Public Consultation
After submitting a Freedom of Information Request for the results of the public consultation, the 400 responses yielded 65% objection to the R-AD-65 Regulation. All objectors opposed the proposal to withhold information from parents. Fierce opposition was given to affirming gender identity in schools and to allowing male students access to female-only spaces.
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R-AD-65 ReClassification
April 7, 2026 the Policy & Bylaw Committee voted to rescind the Gender Identity & Expression Regulation and to reclassify it as an Operational Procedure to be posted on the GECDSB website by Administration. This recommendation was approved during the Board Meeting of April 21, 2026.
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New Operational Procedure Allows Males into Female Spaces !
On June 30, 2026, GECDSB Administration released a new Operational Procedure titled “Gender Identity and Gender Expression in Schools.” Under this policy, Windsor‑Essex schools will allow male students to access female washrooms, changerooms, school sports, and overnight accommodations. The Procedure also enables Gender Affirmation and Accommodation plans to proceed without being recorded in the Ontario Student Record (OSR), effectively keeping parents unaware of these decisions.
Click to Read original Regulation
Click to Read Committee's document
after public consultation.Click to Read FOIA results
(400+ responses from the public)
Click to Read New Operational ProcedureThe GECDSB Board transferred Regulation R‑AD‑65 to Administrative Staff, enabling new school procedures that further compromise female privacy and safety in schools, formalize secrecy from parents, and impose compelled speech on students. Current Trustees declined to provide governance over an issue that has already sparked years of protests and student walkouts.
