THE CULTURE WAR IN THE CLASSROOM

IN 2008, Shawn Rouse and his wife, Amanda, found out they were expecting a child. The couple, who live in Quispamsis, a suburb of Saint John, New Brunswick, couldn't decide on a name. They pored through books in search of ideas, but nothing stuck. "We must have discussed 100 options," says Rouse. After months of intense debate, they finally settled on what they thought was a winning name for the baby girl they were expecting. It didn't occur to either of them that, one day, their child might have thoughts of their own on the matter.
Nine years later, puberty hit hard. Their child had long seemed uneasy as a girl, but the discomfort was suddenly all-encompassing. "Each physical change came with depression and terror," says Rouse. The kid would only wear baggy clothes, eager to hide every curve. When their child came out to the family-first at age 10 as nonbinary, then months later as a trans male-the family had confirmation of what they'd suspected. A year later, in 2021, their child came home with a test for his parents to sign. The name at the top, Levi Rouse, was unfamiliar. "I asked him, 'Who's Levi?"" says Rouse. "He said, "That's what I go by now.""
Rouse was surprised. The name he and Andrea had worked so hard to find had been summarily cast aside. He couldn't help but feel as if Levi, only 12 years old, had left him out of a huge life decision. He had also kept the name change secret.
In time, Rouse came to understand Levi's secrecy not as insubordination or fear, but as prudence. He hadn't wanted to burden his parents with a half-baked decision, so he'd tested it out in a social context first. "Once you come out to your family, you make the choice official," Rouse says. "You want to ensure you get things right. Young people need a zone of privacy to figure themselves out."
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2024-Ausgabe von Maclean's.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2024-Ausgabe von Maclean's.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden

It's Time for Canada's Brain Gain
Trump's America is sabotaging its reputation as a beacon for researchers, scientists and academics. We should seize the moment.

NIGHT CRAWLERS
An exhibit spotlights gritty '80s street photos that capture Montreal's after-dark spirit

How Colleges and Universities Are Innovating for the Future
Canadian schools are teaching students to become creative problem-solvers through programs and initiatives that focus on technology, entrepreneurship, research and social impact

What's All the Fuss About Microcredentials?
These short courses offer much-needed skills in a growing job market

THE INTERVIEW
Want a faster, stronger, richer Canada? Daniel Debow, Build Canada mastermind, has some ideas for how to get there.

"I'm a language teacher and translator, but I can't learn French in Quebec."
I left Brazil to be with the man I love. When the province cut its French classes, I couldn't access the program I need to thrive.

Have a Staycation Summer
One of the more economically powerful ways to buy Canadian is to spend this vacation season exploring our own backyard

Shop Local
The St. Lawrence Market North building is a fresh, futuristic new home for Toronto's favourite weekend-stroll destination

A Heart-to-Heart With a Pioneer in Cardiac Surgery
Exploring the prolific work of Dr. Tirone David—a down-to-earth, solution-driven cardiac surgeon

ENGINEERING THE FUTURE
How UNB's master of engineering leadership in design innovation prepares graduates for the jobs of tomorrow