The Red Deer Queer Community Association has put out a statement regarding Premier Danielle Smith’s Parental Right Legislation. The Provincial Government is set to release the details on parental rights legislation this week according comments made by Smith on her radio show.  

Saskatchewan passed a Parents Bill of Rights known as Bill 137 in October of 2023. Their bill ensures that parents are at the forefront of every important decision in their child’s life. The bill requires parental consent should a child under the age of 16 desire to use a different pronoun or gender identity at school.  

The Red Deer Queer Community Association states that it has concerns in regards to the Premier’s recent meetings with far-right speakers such as Tucker Carlson and Jordan Peterson and how that will affect the nature of the legislation.  

“The Red Deer Queer Association is firmly standing with the young members of our community and will continue to advocate for their right to be themselves without fear of being outed to potentially unsupportive and harmful parents,” said the Red Deer Queer Community Association in their statement. 

“We demand that the provincial government rethinks its plans and actively works with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community within out province. We must ensure that the vulnerable youth of our community are protected and safe. It is crucial that the government conducts thorough research on SOGI education to make an informed decision based on facts and evidence, rather than reactionary politics based on fear and prejudice.”