Observers fear more attacks on 2SLGBTQ

It’s a sign of things to come. That’s what ATA president Jason Schilling thinks of a controversial meme posted by Red Deer Catholic trustee Monique LaGrange that compared Pride to Nazism.

“I think what we’re going to see is a larger culture war around 2SLGBTQ issues that we’re seeing in the United States, in states such as Florida, start to percolate up into Alberta and garner more attention,” Schilling said. “And I think it’s something we need to be aware of and we need to stand up against.”

The LaGrange post came within a broader context of governments taking aim at the use of chosen pronouns in schools. The governments of New Brunswick and Saskatchewan are each pushing for legislative changes around pronoun use while such legislation has already been passed in at least 10 American states.

Schilling noted that, back in June, there was so much negativity emerging around the various Pride events being planned around the province that the ATA felt compelled to issue a statement to push back. Now he believes there’s a need for people with differing views to engage in dialogue.

“When someone is coming from a position of hate, there’s no both sides of the story. There is calling it out and then getting to the root of what the issue is about and finding solutions that way,” he said.

“I think there needs to be a conversation about what people are afraid of, of what they perceive that they’re afraid of, because we’re all coming from a place of wanting to make sure that school is safe for everyone, but some people are really taking it in a different direction.”

Pronouns the latest target

Duane Bratt, a political scientist with Mount Royal University in Calgary, said the arguments being made around parental notification of chosen pronouns is reminiscent of previous arguments with respect to gay–straight alliances.

“The issue is now trans children, but the echoes around gay–straight alliances are right there. [Opponents have] just changed targets. The same dispute about parental notification over whether a child joins a GSA is now about parental notification around pronouns.”

Alberta premier Danielle Smith has stated that she won’t follow New Brunswick or Saskatchewan.

 

“I have said that we don’t really want to politicize these issues, because these issues are ones that are very private, family issues, so we’re trying to avoid turning it into a political hot potato,” Smith told the Western Standard. “Because we want to make sure that kids feel supported but we’ve also been clear that we also respect parental rights.”

Bratt wonders how long Smith can hold off the more conservative segment of the UCP’s supporters and stay out of public discussions around pronouns.

“I don’t think she wants to drag herself into that, but she may be forced to. There may be forces around her that eventually draw her in.”

Post reaction

Following the LaGrange post, the ATA issued a statement calling on the trustee to resign or, barring that, for the board to remove her.

“Attacks on sexual and gender diverse students and school staff are increasing to exceptional and troubling levels,” the statement read. “Swift, decisive and highly visible action to combat this hatred is the only way forward.”

The ATA’s Red Deer Catholic local also issued a statement.

“Red Deer Catholic teachers remain committed to ensuring that all students are welcomed into a safe and caring environment that nurtures and values each individual.”

Both the local and the provincial ATA said the post was a violation of section 33 of the Education Act, which requires schools to be welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that respect diversity and foster a sense of belonging.

In a subsequent interview with the Western Standard (her only public statement), LaGrange said she does not intend to resign.

“This meme is not comparing or attacking the LGBTQ community, it is about protecting our children and keeping parents as the primary educators,” LaGrange said.

“The story meme is centred around indoctrination and how children are vulnerable to evil agendas (agendas coming from organizations like Planned Parenthood, the UN or SOGI 123) filtering through culture,” LaGrange said.

SOGI 123 is a collaboration that includes the Alberta Teachers’ Association that is aimed at helping educators make schools inclusive and safe for students of all sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI).

“To call that evil says she doesn’t understand what that is about, and I would categorically push back against those kind of comments because they don’t make any sense to me,” Schilling said. “Comparing SOGI 123 to Nazism is ludicrous.” ❚

Monique LaGrange told the Western Standard that her husband is a distant cousin of the husband of former education minister Adriana LaGrange.