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By Rachel May

Support LGBTQ+ youth

Humboldt and Area Pride Network shares support for LGBTQ+ youth

Aug 29, 2023 | 11:14 AM

Last week the Sask. Party announced changes to sexual health education as well as gender and pronoun policies and local pride organizations are feeling the effects.

The changes were announced by Education Minister Dustin Duncan last Tuesday. The changes include parents having the ability to remove their child from sexual health education and parents needing to consent to a name or pronoun change before it will be honoured by the school.

Humboldt and Area Pride Network founder and chair Andrew Matheson told northeastNOW that right now there is a feeling of uncertainty and sadness around the news.

“It’s been stressful but like also disappointing to have to go through such a regression stage in work that’s been done over the years.”

Matheson explained right now the biggest task at hand is supporting transgender, two-spirit and non-binary youth through a time in which there is uncertainty.

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“The announcement said that there would be safeguards in place however, none of those safeguards have been shared with anyone for us to be able to support youth that are starting school,” Matheson said.

One of the main criticisms lobbied against the new policies is an increased risk of youth being forced to come out to their parents when it might not be safe to do so.

Matheson said there has never been a time that youth need support more than they do now.

“The biggest support we can give to youth is allyship. Getting out and speaking out against policy changes,” Matheson said. “Youth shouldn’t be made to be political pawns in a game of politics, rights and freedoms.”

Community members who want to get involved in speaking out against the policy changes are encouraged to attend rallies being hosted across the province including upcoming protests in North Battleford on Sept. 3 outside of MLA Jeremy Cockrill’s office from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Prince Albert on Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. outside of MLA Alan Ross’ office.

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Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM