Two transgender teens are part of a second human rights case launched against the Ontario government for its use of an outdated sex-ed curriculum.Ryan and Noah, both 15, say using the two-decade-old lessons — which don’t explicitly mention LGBT youth — means teens like them are no longer reflected in the classroom. They say that could lead to an unwelcoming, even “hostile” school environment.“In my mind, the most important thing is the lack of inclusion,” said Ryan, who is being identified by first name only in the case, as is Noah. Both attend secondary school in Toronto. “If heterosexual students are getting the sexual education they need to have safe sex and make proper decisions about that, and (LGBT) students are not receiving that education, what they are learning does not apply to them at all.”Ryan also said non-LGBT students “are growing up with ignorant misinformation. They won’t be understanding, they won’t be accepting” if they aren’t discussing issues covered under the 2015 curriculum that is now on hold for elementary students.High school students continue to receive the updated 2015 curriculum, but both teens say not using it in elementary schools will create a knowledge gap. Elementary students are now to be taught lessons that were in use from 1998-2014, with very minor changes. They say the 2015 sex-ed curriculum — which talked about same-sex families and gender fluidity — were “critical to reducing the level of discrimination and bullying” when they were in elementary school. “The way I see it, when younger students are coming into high school ... they are not educated on my identity,” said Ryan. “Just knowing that they didn’t receive proper education ... makes me very uncomfortable in the halls.” Andrea Luey, a lawyer with the non-profit Justice for Children and Youth who is handling the case, said “re ...
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