WESTLOCK — Members of Westlock Pride gathered outside the Westlock Heritage Building Thursday morning, Oct. 24, for a short protest against the province’s proposed parental rights policy, which was announced in February and is expected to see legislation tabled in the Alberta legislature this fall, as early as next week.
“We are standing in solidarity with an Alberta school-wide walkout, in defending trans rights and our children in schools with (premier) Danielle Smith’s bill that she’s going to try to push through,” said Westlock Pride founder Jasmine Boutin. “We believe that’s going to harm families and children.”
Westlock Pride is a community-based, peer-support group for allies, supporters and parents of the gay-straight alliance (GSA) Thunder Alliance, at R.F. Staples School. It was formed by local resident and parent Jasmine Boutin earlier this spring.
Boutin said Thursday’s protest, being held in “small towns and big communities” across the province, is a precursor to a larger province-wide rally that will take place Nov. 2 at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, involving community groups, allies and parents.
“(It’s) to show Danielle Smith that we are not in agreement with her overreach and her new (policy),” said Boutin, noting her biggest concern about the proposed changes is that “she pushing us back 50 years.”
“We’ve come so far in growth, in so many areas of life and Danielle is wanting to take (away) parent’s rights in supporting their children, in going to doctors, in going to psychiatrists, in seeking proper help for their children and it’s wrong,” said Boutin. “Politics should not be in our school system telling us, telling our kids how to be, what to do, how to do it and just everyday life.”
While out protesting the pending policy changes on Oct. 24, Boutin noted the challenges of ensuring their voices are heard, particularly in a community that passed a crosswalk and flagpole neutrality bylaw, earlier this spring.
“Honestly, there’s more support for us than a lot of people expect,” she said. “(With) Westlock Pride we’re no longer scared. We’re going to be standing up saying look at us — we belong to this community. This is our home, these are our families, our friends and our children.”
Westlock Pride will be joining thousands of others for the Nov. 2 rally from 3-5 p.m. in Edmonton.
