Pronoun policy sparks rallies across Saskatchewan

On Friday, the provincial government’s pronoun policy — Bill 137 or the Parents’ Bill of Rights — was passed in the legislature and became law.

On Saturday, both Regina and Saskatoon saw hundreds of people show up to voice their support or opposition to the bill.

In Saskatoon, close to 300 protestors showed up to show their support for trans and gender-diverse kids as well to share their stories and listen to what others were saying.

Blake Tait, Saskatoon protest organizer, says he came out and was socially transitioning at school when he was 14.

Tait says his blood family was very supportive of him and his decision.

“My sisters are awesome, my parents are both awesome. I did have a step-dad at the time that we were kind of stuck in a hard place with,” said Tait. “I did face a lot of verbal degradation at home, I was avoiding being at home by (age) 17.”

Tait explained that if it wasn’t for other resources he may not have found the person he wanted to become.

“Finding communities through the (University of Saskatchewan Students Union Pride Centre) and throughout Saskatoon … was really instrumental in me regaining my pride and becoming the person I wanted to be,” said Tait.

“I will always fight for those resources and organizations out there that are doing what needs to be done and I will always fight for no child to have to go through what I did (with) that step-dad.”

Tait says it’s really heartwarming to see this much support.

“I’m proud to see how many people are out,” said Tait. “It’s really heartwarming to see how many people are fighting for me and for people like me.”

Janet Sartison, Blake’s Mom was in attendance at the protest and says she is incredibly proud of Blake and all the support he’s received but also sad that he has to protest unjust laws.

“I think it’s really sad that there are so many kids that aren’t going to have that safe place to be,” said Sartison. “That makes me really proud that Blake is doing what he’s doing.”

Sartison says she’s glad her kids were lucky enough to grow up in a time where they got the support they needed.

“The kids that are growing up now, they don’t have that and that’s terrifying,” said Sartison. “I know that there are kids that aren’t going to be okay because of this, I wish somebody would see that.”

Sartison says she’s incredibly disappointed in the government and the passing of the pronoun policy bill.

Sartison says Saskatchewan is no longer an accepting place.

“I think everybody has human rights, and they’ve taken human rights away from humans,” said Sartison.

A small group of counter-protesters showed up near the end of the protest in Saskatoon but quickly left.

Regina

The bill’s passing prompted hundreds of people to show up outside of the Legislative Building on Saturday. A rally in support of the pronoun policy was held on Legislature grounds. It was part of another series of One Million March 4 Children demonstrations organized across the province.

There were also hundreds of counter-protestors gathered outside the legislature who were there to show opposition to the newly enshrined pronoun policy.

“The ultimate goal of this action today is to basically offer resistance to hate, ultimately, and also to let all the queer youth in Saskatchewan know that somebody has their back, that there’s somebody there that’s going to stand up for them, that there’s somebody there that’s going to fight for them,” said organizer Stephen Feltmate.

Feltmate is part of Regina Rainbow Action — a group that organizes protests and counter-protests on matters pertaining to queer issues.

“When an entire government turns against you and puts you in the pathway of an oncoming train, it’s time for decent people to stand up and actually do something about this,” he said.

Sign held up before the start of a counter-protest that took place in Regina. Oct. 21, 2023. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

Feltmate said the pronoun policy puts 2SLGBTQ+ youth at risk for conversion therapy, which he himself was subjected to.

Avtar Singh said he was happy with the government’s approval of the bill.

“Hopefully this will solve a lot of issues that parents have,” Singh said. “Parents can have the right to speak up to their kids as to what they should be following instead of the school board.”

Manmeet Singh with the Sikh Society of Regina also showed up to the rally that was in support of the pronoun policy.

“We’re not here to spread any hate,” Singh said. “We’re not against anyone. As a Sikh, we believe in equality of all and we stand by that principle so we’ll never portray hate, we’ll never say that you’re not welcome.”

A demonstrator holds up a Trans flag by the Legislative Building in Regina on Oct. 21, 2023. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

Singh said education needs to be age-appropriate.

Singh said he understands the concerns people have about the policy’s effect on queer youth but he once again stressed the need for “age-appropriate” education.

“There are children’s rights and we should never be taking those away but like I said, it’s age-appropriate,” he said.

“(If) a 10-year-old is wanting to be (gender)-fluid — that’s good for them but there still needs to be them attaining puberty to understand what they want to be.”

—With files from 980 CJME’s Daniel Reech