Free Speech Court Victory for Waterloo, Ontario Teacher Silenced for Calling Out Transgender Books in School

In a significant victory for free speech, on November 23, 2023, an Ontario judge asserted that human rights legislation "does not prohibit public discussion of anything." This declaration supports teacher Carolyn Burjoski, who faced silencing during a Waterloo Region District School Board meeting while expressing concerns about transgender-themed books in elementary school libraries.

Carolyn Burjoski was silenced on January 17, 2022, during a school board meeting where she discussed transgender-themed publications available in kindergarten to Grade 6 school libraries. She claimed these books overly simplified and glamorized the process of medically transitioning to another gender.

The now former school board chair, Scott Piatkowski, abruptly ended her speech, alleging a violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code. The Board supported Piatkowski's decision, resulting in Ms. Burjoski's expulsion from the meeting.

Following the incident, Carolyn Burjoski, a teacher with 20 years on the job, retired and was hospitalized for anxiety. She launched a GoFundMe campaign and filed a $1.75 million defamation lawsuit against the WRDSB and former school board chair Scott Piatkowski for alleged comments made in the meeting, to the press, and on social media.

Ontario Superior Court Justice James Ramsay, addressing the WRDSB's attempt to dismiss the defamation lawsuit, emphasized the importance of open dialogue in a democratic society, stating, "What happened here should not happen in a democratic society." He clarified that the Human Rights Code does not restrict public discussion on topics related to transgenderism or minors, underscoring that it does not limit discourse on any subject.

Justice James Ramsay ruled that Ms. Burjoski can proceed with her defamation lawsuit and ordered the school board to pay Burjoski’s legal fees of $30,000.

You can donate and get more information about Burjoski’s story at the link below.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/carolyn-burjoski-vs-wrdsb-legal-fund