(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

gsa walkout

Red Deer students walk out to protest proposed GSA/QSA legislation

May 3, 2019 | 4:08 PM

Hundreds of Red Deer students walked out of their schools on Friday morning to protest the United Conservative Party’s proposed policy around GSAs and QSAs.

UCP leader Jason Kenney has made clear his intention to get rid of the NDP’s Bill 24 and replace it with the old Bill 10 which would allow teachers, in specific circumstances, to tell a parent that their child is in a GSA or QSA.

Among the 100 or so students who partook at Hunting Hills High School was grade 10 student Jay.

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“Even though we can’t legally vote, we should be able to have a voice, Jay said. “GSAs are very important, and without the safeties of GSAs, some people won’t be able to be themselves. The government is very much missing the point.”

Hunter Grenier, a grade 11 student and QSA member, also shared his thoughts.

“I think anybody in a Gay-Straight Aliance should be allowed to be anonymous,” he said. “I don’t think parents should have to be notified. People just don’t really understand what GSAs are.”

On the backing from his peers, Grenier added, “It’s good for everyone to support each other. There shouldn’t be any discrimination or pushing away of people who just want to be honest about who they are.”

Alberta’s new Education Minister and MLA for Red Deer-North Adriana LaGrange issued a statement Friday afternoon via Twitter with regards to the walkout.

She said that the most important job she has is to listen and vowed to have an open line of communication with everyone who has a role in Alberta’s education system.

“One of my top priorities is to meet with students, as well as parents, teachers, principals, trustees and other stakeholders — and work with them to strengthen our education system,” said LaGrange, the former board chair of Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools.

“We do not support mandatory parental notification or ‘outing’ of any student,” she continued.

“We do strongly support efforts to make our schools in Alberta free from bullying, by providing peer support, counselling and safe spaces for all students in our province, especially those subject to bullying or prejudice because of their sexual identity.”

The walkout was spearheaded by a grade 10 student named Aimee, who goes to school in Calgary.