2SLGBTQ+ concerns should be a top priority this election, advocates say

After a tumultuous year that saw the passing of Bill 137 and increases in transphobia and homophobia, advocates and a political scientist say the concerns of 2SLGBTQ+ people in Saskatchewan should be a top priority in the coming provincial election.

"It is so near and dear to us, because how a government could really use the notwithstanding clause, especially in a dismissive and catastrophic way, but then just move on as if that's business as usual? It just creates desensitization among the population," said Megan Wells, a Saskatoon mother of a queer teenager.

Bill 137, titled the Parents' Bill of Rights, requires students under 16 to get parental consent to use a different gender-related name or pronoun at school. It also requires schools to give parents notice of any planned sexual education classes and allow them to withdraw their children. The province invoked the notwithstanding clause in the law to sidestep any challenges based on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Wells said she still remembers the call from her daughter's school last year when Bill 137 was enacted. She said it was exasperating to see school administration waste vital time on "something as silly as calling a parent about how a child identifies in the classroom."

Bou Wells, 14, identifies as pangender and lesbian. She has been using she/they pronouns since Grade 8.

"Bou's also neurodivergent. I've never received calls about how she would be accommodated in the classroom," Megan said. "Bill 137 is just an unfortunate chapter in our province."

Asked about the bill last week, Scott Moe said parents should be involved in their children's education.

"It's this government's view that they have a right to be involved in the classes that their children should choose," he said.

"An NDP party would remove Bill 137, would remove the rights that parents have to be involved in their children's education and to be involved in their children's lives. And what essentially creates an environment where a teacher could keep secrets from parents."

Moe said there are "no sides" in this debate and that everyone is "on the child's side."

But Bou said it's crucial for children to be able to explore their identities."Some people still think that it's just a couple of kids who are affected by it, but honestly it affects everyone. It affects our entire province. It endangers our youth," she said.

Bou said she wishes she could vote, as she is "seeing many kids with unsafe households" curbing their curiosity.

"It's definitely very unfortunate that it's targeting the youth that don't have any say in it," she said.

Outright hostility towards 2SLGBTQ+ kids: Regina parent

Regina parent Jasper Allan Holtslander said his eldest child, who is non-binary, is suffering.

"Since Bill 137 was passed, he's been dealing with some bullying, classmates questioning his identity and pronouns, questioning his parentage as well," Holtslander said.

"Now that the bill has passed, there is outspoken outright hostility towards them."

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Holtslander said some of his child's peers are also being bullied for their sexuality, gender identity and presentation.

"For me, LGBTQ2S issues are a huge concern with this election cycle."

Access to health care

Holtslander said he is also concerned about the future of health care for 2SLGBTQ+ people something he said is conspicuously absent from party platforms in the province.

He said he is on hormone replacement therapy as a trans gay man and his eldest child is on puberty blockers.

"If the Sask. Party stayed in power, would access to those drugs be restricted? Would it be harder for kids to get on puberty blockers if that's something they need?," Holtslander said.

"Right now, gender-affirming surgeries are covered through the Sask health cards. Is that going to stay the same? Is it going to change? I really don't know."

These concerns have led Holtslander to expedite his top surgery, which he initially planned on getting once his kids were older.

"I'm currently moving that timeline up significantly and pursuing it now," he said.

"I'd like to see all political parties talk more about how they're planning to approach and handle these issues in this election cycle."

Holtslander said he has been having many difficult conversations with his kids about their family structure and the non-accepting world that surrounds them.

"I would like a provincial government that isn't trying to outlaw my children's identities, that isn't trying to make it more difficult to explore as a child within the educational system."

Increased homophobia and transphobia: advocate

Skylar Forsberg said she has seen a marked increase in homophobia and transphobia in the province.

The two-spirit trans woman has participated in many pro-2SLGBTQ+ protests over the past year.

"It's saddening because I have difficulties going out in public nowadays because I find that people are judging me," she said.

"I get targeted a lot in stores as well. It's really disheartening to see."

WATCH | Skylar Forsberg explains the current climate for 2SLGBTQ+ people in Saskatchewan:

This two-spirit trans woman says she's experiencing more transphobia in Saskatchewan

24 days ago

Duration 1:57

Skylar Forsberg wants all parties to listen to 2SLGBTQ+ people and their needs during this provincial election cycle.

Forsberg fought for pronoun changes in schools and on passports when she was younger. She said Bill 137 makes it feel like "her voice is cancelled."

Forsberg works at a church as a Sunday school teacher and recently had some parents stand against her.

"'We don't want our kid in this class because you're teaching it. We don't want a trans person teaching our kid,'" she recounted.

Forsberg said she want all parties to listen to 2SLGBTQ+ people and their needs during this election cycle.

NDP leader Carla Beck said Wednesday that her party warned the government that the bill and "ugly" politics would unleash harm on kids.

"This race-to-the-bottom game of divisive politics where we make already vulnerable people in our province more vulnerable," she said. "It's an issue for all people who want their human rights to be respected."

2SLGBTQ+ issues should be a political priority: prof

Rachel Loewen Walker, program chair of women's and gender studies in the political studies department at the University of Saskatchewan, said 2SLGBTQ+ concerns are "a big election issue."

"We know that people have been thinking about this all year, so it's something that is making a big difference in people as they're planning to go to the polls," she said.

Loewen Walker said she is part of a research team analyzing more than 600 letters that people wrote criticizing Bill 137. Loewen Walker said the bill may hurt the Sask. Party more than it expects.

She said similar discussions around queer rights and a parent's role are happening in Alberta, New Brunswick and B.C.

"Voters recognize that one way that they can really speak out against Bill 137 is by taking that to the polls when they're making decisions about the next election."

She said 2SLGBTQ+ rights "absolutely should be an election issue."

"It hasn't had the prevalence that it needs to have. I think if ever LGBTQ issues were going to be top of the ballot, we're heading into that now, not just provincially, but also federally."