Calgary students join marches to protest the province's gender policies

Hundreds of Alberta students walked out of classrooms Wednesday in a provincial protest against the UCP government's controversial proposals for transgender youth.

Starting at 10am, students walked out of their schools to take part in demonstrations against the medical intervention policy announced by Prime Minister Daniel Smith.

These recommendations include parental sex education, sexual orientation and gender identity confirmation.

Students from Canada West, Crescent Heights, William Aberhart and Henry Wise Wood schools in Calgary protested.

They were joined by teenagers from Okotoks, Airdrie, Cochrane, Lethbridge, Edmonton and Leduc.

“It's important to me because I'm a trans kid and personally I'm in a safe situation, but I know a lot of people who aren't, even at this school,” said 12th grader Akira Heslein.

“(The government) is denying the effectiveness of our health care for parental rights.

“We will not sit still, this is our fight.”

“(Smith) is taking away the rights of people who have done nothing,” Yomade Akapo added.

“It's a violation of human rights. It's disgusting.”

The Calgary Board of Education said it is aware of the demonstrations and will not discourage student participation.

“During this time, we will not prevent students from leaving class, but any students who do not attend will be marked as unexcused,” the statement said.

“We can't stand watching this horrible thing happen,” 11th-grader Rebecca Malach told CTV News.

“That's not right.”

Provincial response

Smith said the fall session of the Legislature will introduce new rules, including restrictions on youth changing their names or pronouns in school and on hormone therapy or sex-reassignment surgery.

Its education minister defended the policy to the media on Wednesday.

“We understand that there are different opinions and that's okay,” said Demetrios Nicolaides.

“It's important to have conversations like this.”

Critics have lamented what they call a complete lack of consultation.

When asked who he spoke with before the announcement, Nicolaides pointed to meetings he held over the weekend and on Monday.

He promised to “work harder with partners to ensure that these policies are implemented in the most effective way.”

Smith said the long-term goal is to ensure children are “fully aware” of the decisions they're making because they may regret it later in life.

Defending his proposals during a visit to Ottawa on Monday, the premier said there is no “one voice” that can speak for the entire transgender community.

She said she has spoken with some transgender people who have expressed concern about children's ability to transition at a young age.

“We need to talk about the right age to make life-changing decisions,” he said.

(With files from The Canadian Press)