Experience stresses need for whistleblower protections, trustees told

A Hamilton public school teacher who transitioned their gender is urging trustees to ensure a new whistleblower policy includes autonomous investigations to avoid potential conflicts of interests among those in charge.

Key Straughan, who uses the pronouns they/them, said they are on long-term disability after being diagnosed with post-traumatic distress disorder from “workplace transphobia and whistleblower retaliation.”

The kindergarten teacher said they gender transitioned in the 2015-16 school year and reported incidents of transphobia, including students making fun of their looks and voice, which were rejected as unfounded by a supervisor.

Straughan said they agreed to be transferred to another school the following year on the understanding that staff there would be trained on trans sensitivity, but the board never followed through.

They said they filed a complaint in July 2018 against a designated supervisor trained in trans sensitivity for failing to address their concerns, only to see the same supervisor initiate a display of teacher baby photos at the school open house that September.

“Anyone who understands trans culture would know that this is outing and hurtful,” Straughan told trustees at their Jan. 11 policy committee meeting.

“I got shingles from the stress of this and I knew it would point out my trans status. I was trying to not be outed and just fit in at my new school,” they said.

“This...

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