Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP is calling for the repeal of the province's controversial pronoun law, nearly three years after it took effect. The 2023 legislation requires parental consent for children under 16 to change their names or pronouns at school.
NDP Leader Carla Beck stated the law has led to a rise in discrimination incidents. "People are scared to talk about issues that would make students feel loved and seen and accepted," she said.
The law was challenged in court, but Premier Scott Moe's government invoked the notwithstanding clause to protect it. The legal battle has reached the Supreme Court of Canada.
Advocates report increased bullying against transgender youth since the law was enacted. "Students are being called slurs... verbally harassed... physically attacked," said Keegan Grandel of the Saskatchewan Coalition to Repeal Bill 137.
A government spokesperson defended the law, stating it protects parental rights and ensures students are supported at home and school. Beck countered that the law was designed to "divide" and "inflame" for political gain.
Despite public apathy, Pride organizations continue community outreach, noting troubling accounts from youth navigating a hostile environment.