Calgary students join walkout to protest province's proposed gender policies
Hundreds of Alberta students left their classrooms Wednesday as part of a province-wide protest against the UCP government's controversial proposals regarding transgender youth.
Beginning at 10 a.m., students walked out of their schools to take part in demonstrations against the far-reaching medical intervention policies announced by Premier Danielle Smith.
Those proposals include parental approval for sex education, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Students from Calgary's Western Canada, Crescent Heights, William Aberhart and Henry Wise Wood schools opted in to the protest, among others.
They were joined by teens in Okotoks, Airdrie, Cochrane, Lethbridge, Edmonton and Leduc.
"It's important to me because I am a trans kid and I am personally in a safe situation but I know a lot of people — even at this school — that aren't," Grade 12 student Akira Hesslein said.
"(The government is) literally denying us the effectiveness of our health care for the sake of parental rights.
"We're not going to be quiet. This is our fight."
"(Smith is) taking away the rights of people who haven't done anything wrong," Yomade Akapo added.
"It's a violation of human rights. It's absolutely disgusting."
The Calgary Board of Education said it was aware of the demonstrations and wouldn't stop any students from participating.
"We will not prevent students from leaving class during this time; however, any students who were not present in class will be marked as an unexcused absence," it said.
"We can't just stand by and watch this awful stuff happen," Grade 11 student Rebecca Malach told CTV News.
"It's not right."
Provincial response
Smith has said the fall sitting of the legislature would bring new rules, including restrictions on youth changing their names or pronouns at school and getting hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery.
Her education minister defended the policies to media Wednesday.
"We understand that there are a diverse range of opinions and that's ok," Demetrios Nicolaides said.
"It's important to have these kinds of conversations."
Critics have lamented over what they call a complete lack of consultation.
When asked about who was spoken to before the announcement, Nicolaides pointed to meetings he had over the weekend and on Monday.
He promised to engage more "with partners to ensure that these policies are implemented in the most efficient manner possible."
Smith has claimed the long-term goal is to ensure children are "fully informed" about the decisions they are making because they might regret them later in life.
In defending her proposals during a trip to Ottawa on Monday, the premier said there is no "single voice" that can speak on behalf of the entire transgender community.
She said she has spoken to some transgender people who expressed concerns about the ability of children to transition at a young age.
"We had to have a conversation about what is the appropriate age to be able to make those life-altering decisions," she said.
Lethbridge participates
At 10 a.m., students from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute (LCI) began to file outside and across the street.
Dozens took part, chanting and giving speeches in opposition of the UCP's proposed gender identity policies.
"My biggest thing with wanting to come out here to start up these protests was really just to try to empower students and show that everyone has a really great voice and a really powerful voice," said LCI student and walkout organizer Kaz Raham.
Across the city, students at Chinook High School staged a similar event.
Several expressed concern over the new policies' potential to harm trans students.
"It's just dangerous in general, this bill. I have friends, who will not be named, who would in fact be in danger if they were exposed to their parents in any form," said Chinook High School student Shev Twedt.
Some students support the new policies and believe teenagers are too young to be making decisions about their gender identity.
"A child is not at the full mind capacity to make a decision like that. I wouldn't want to make a decision like that," said Jaydan Miranda, a student at LCI.
Those protesting the government's actions were happy with the turnouts they saw and plan to continue.
"I think it's really great that schools and students are coming together across Alberta, protesting the changes Danielle Smith has put out," said Theo, a student at Chinook High School who did not want to share their last name.
(With files from The Canadian Press)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.