When the former NDP government passed Bill 24 with GSA protections in 2017, it was comforting to our family that if my daughter's support at school changed, there would be legislation in place to protect her. It felt good to know that policy-makers had her best interests in mind. Bill 24 was even more crucial for kids who might lack a supportive home or school environment.
This past election was stressful and unsettling for not only myself but also my daughter. Although she is only young, it is impossible to escape the rhetoric being circulated through television, radio, and day to day conversation. From the beginning, the messaging was made very clear that the UCP did not have her best interests in mind, and the introduction of Bill 8 confirmed that.
As a parent, it is incredibly scary to look at the statistics related to LGBTQ youth and the hurdles they face. Seventy-five per cent of transgender students in Alberta report experiencing discrimination; however, schools with established GSAs, and policies against homophobic bullying have lower odds of discrimination than those who don’t.
By the UCP gutting GSA protections to satisfy their backwards ideology, they are putting LGBTQ kids at a higher risk of experiencing discrimination, mental health issues and bullying. It also sends a message to Albertan students that the adults in charge do not have their back. This unsupportive message is a powerful one.
Amy Graves, St. Albert
