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VANCOUVER — A father who opposes his transgender child’s pursuit of testosterone therapy showed behaviour that went beyond mere expressions of disapproval but was coercive and intimidating — and thus was a clear act of family violence, B.C.’s top court was told Thursday.

Because of that harmful behaviour, a lower court was correct to place restrictions on the father’s ability to talk about the case, argued the child’s lawyer, barbara findlay.

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“For a transgender person, having the world refuse to accept the gender identity that you say you are is the most profound harm because it’s a denial of your human identity,” findlay said.

“(The) dad’s expression rights end at the point where they harm (the child).”

The arguments were made at the resumption of a three-day B.C. Appeal Court hearing into a complex family dispute that deals with themes of child autonomy, parental rights and freedom of expression.