16-year-old Josh Alexander won’t be allowed to attend school for the rest of the year after he said he would continue to express his belief that God created only two sexes. Alexander told The Epoch Times.
He told St. Joseph Catholic High School in Renfrew, Ontario, that he would not knowingly engage or conflict with transgender students, but would continue to express his beliefs. Lawyers have taken the matter to the Ontario Human Rights Court, calling it religious discrimination.
“Crime is obviously defined by the person being attacked. I expressed my religious beliefs in class and it got out of control,” Alexander said. “Not everyone likes it. Mine obviously doesn’t fit the story.”
He hasn’t been to school since his first suspension in November. He organized protests against transgender students using women’s restrooms. He also said in a class discussion that there are only two immutable genders.
When his suspension was lifted in early January, he was instead “eliminated” by the principal. I don’t know if it will reach.
Principal Derek Lennox told the Epoch Times he could not comment on the situation.
James Kitchen, Alexander’s attorney, told The Epoch Times that the school viewed Alexander’s behavior as “bullying.”
“Obviously, he’s not really bullying them because the term is defined by … rational people. No,” Kitchen said. And he expresses them online and in class.”
Sophie Smith-Dore, co-founder of Arnprior Pride and mother of a transgender student at the school, told the Epoch Times in January: This emotional work is exhausting. We carry the burden of trying to protect our gender-diverse children. ”
She refused to elaborate on her or her child’s experiences.
Mark Sarson, director of education for the Renfrew County Catholic District Board of Education, told the Epoch Times in December that the board took a “pastoral approach” to transgender students and involved them in the conversation. , said it seeks to bring people together without conflict.
He said at the time, and also on Wednesday, that he could not comment further. He cannot discuss specific students with the press.
In addition to taking the matter to a state human rights court (Kitchen said he would file a complaint about it later this month), Alexander moved to appeal the original suspension. A pause will be brought before the school board to decide.
However, the appeal is pending over the issue of parental independence. Alexander has withdrawn from parental control for purposes of appeal, a legal designation permitted to students over the age of 16 under certain circumstances.
The school disputes this, stating that Alexander still lives with his parents and does not meet the definition of this designation.
Kitchen said: He asks them for guidance and they gladly give it to him. But he lives his life. Because his parents raised him that way. ”
Kitchen and Alexander requested the hearing be broadcast via videoconference.