Hundreds gathered in Calgary in support of Gay-Straight Alliances (PHOTOS)
Calgary’s streets were looking a little more colourful than usual on Thursday evening as hundreds waved pride flags during a march in support of Gay-Straight Alliances.
The march was motivated by an announcement made by United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney on Monday stating that, if elected, he would replace Alberta’s School Act with 2014’s Education Act, rolling back protections that make it illegal for teachers to notify parents if their children are participating in a GSA.
See also
- March supporting Gay-Straight Alliance protections planned for YYC today
- Even Rachel Notley piled onto Drew Barne's ironic math mistake
- Jason Kenney announces big education changes if UCP wins election
Kenney defended the proposed removal of the protection at a media event on Tuesday, stating that, while he supports the creating of GSAs in schools and opposes mandatory notifications to parents, there may be some “unique cases” where teachers and principals could believe it is in the student’s best interest to out them to their parents — though that comes under the assumption that the parents would respond in a loving and supportive way to the news that their child is part of a GSA.
“In some unique cases, especially dealing with younger kids, perhaps younger kids being bullied who have emotional and mental health challenges, engaging the loving support of a parent is entirely reasonable,” Kenney said, at the event.
“We say let highly-trained teachers and principals make a decision on a case by case basis of what’s in the best interest of the child.”
Premier Rachel Notley responded to Kenney’s statement, noting that the safety of knowing that teachers and principals are legally bound to not out them to their parents is what makes GSAs work for vulnerable students in the first place.
“He is proposing once again to out LGBTQ kids,” said Notley.
“I would urge Mr. Kenney to talk to the experts, to the families, and to the kids themselves who will tell him that GSAs, and the ability to join them with your privacy respected, save lives.”
Jason Kenney made a big mistake yesterday.
GSAs save lives.
This debate’s been settled.
He needs to talk to the experts, parents and kids who are asking for these clubs.
Instead, he’s talking about outing gay kids in school. That would have very sad and cruel consequences.#ableg— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) March 26, 2019
The Calgary event drew hundreds of participants and came just one day after Edmonton saw a similar event, with the steps of the Alberta Legislature building seeing a striking shade of rainbow on Wednesday.
The Calgary march took participants on a six km journey from the Marda Loop Safeway to outside UCP candidate Doug Schweitzer’s office in downtown Calgary.
Here’s a look at the event in case you happened to miss it:
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
See also
Follow Channels and Categories