Sask. Party MLAs barred from Regina Pride parade over pronoun law

Members of the Saskatchewan Party are not welcome at Regina’s Pride Parade in June.

On Monday, Queen City Pride (QCP) announced it was barring Sask. Party members from participating in Pride month celebrations. It is also not holding a flag-raising ceremony at the legislature for Pride month.

Co-chair Riviera Bonneau said the organization took this action in response to the provincial government’s pronoun policy – also known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights. It requires students under 16 to have parental consent before changing their pronouns at school.

“They have made a decision to hurt our trans and pride youth as well as other parts of the community, but specifically them,” Bonneau said.

“As an organization, we feel like it’s our duty to try to protect those folks as much as we possibly can.”

Bonneau said QCP received community feedback saying the policy made members of the queer community feel unsafe.

“We want everyone to feel loved and safe and comfortable, and having the Sask. Party as part of our festivities this year went against that, so we decided to not include them this year,” Bonneau told 980 CJME.

The province announced the policy last August. In September, King’s Bench Justice Michael Megaw granted an injunction to put the policy on hold, but Premier Scott Moe invoked the notwithstanding clause to enact the law in October.

“I was angry, and I think a lot of our community members were,” Bonneau said about the enactment of the policy.

She said the process made her lose faith in the government and legal system.

“School can be a safe place for (students) if home isn’t, and the idea that some kids will be forcefully outed made me angry,” she said.

With that said, Bonneau said the Sask. Party could repair the damage by reversing the policy and consulting with members of the Queer community and acknowledging the harm that was done.

“If you want to be an ally, make sure that your policies back that up because right now, that’s not how it’s looking,” Bonneau said.

Some Sask Party politicians have taken part in Pride parades in Regina and Saskatoon in recent years. But QCP says it will not allow these MLAs to “masquerade” as supporters for one month of the year.

Saskatoon Pride supports decision

Saskatoon Pride has responded to Queen City Pride’s movement, and while its process is different from Regina’s it supports the decision.

Saskatoon Pride has a blind review process for all corporations, businesses, unions, and political parties looking to be involved in its pride festivities.

In a media release, the organization said there have been no rejections of anyone looking to join, “but more than one clarification has been sought.”

“We have confidence in our process, which includes our board reserving the right to determine whether applicants’ actions and their policies align with our vision,” the statement read.

The release said that Saskatoon Pride has already condemned the Sask Party for passing the Parents Bill of Rights and using the notwithstanding clause.

“Their actions have caused or at the very least mimicked the ride of hateful rhetoric and aggression, including microaggressions to all members of our community which are happening in Saskatchewan and Alberta and, sadly, are championed by governments and leaders of political parties that should be counted on for protection rather than assault.”

Prince Albert Pride follows suit

Troy Parenteau, secretary of Prince Albert Pride, said it is standing in solidarity with QC Pride.

“We will not accept any Sask. Party MLA or Saskatchewan United Party MLA at our Prince Albert Pride unless they publicly denounce Bill 137 and say publicly and live that they would work towards repealing it,” Parenteau said.

Parenteau said that since the bill was released, PA Pride has not heard from the Sask. Party.

“Pride organizations are first and foremost human rights organizations and to accept anybody that would use the notwithstanding clause to hurt and harm children would stand in the face of that for sure,” Parenteau said.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Mia Holowaychuk and The Canadian Press.