Aimee, a grade 10 student in Calgary, is leading a province-wide walk-out of students on May 3 in opposition to the UCP's plans for GSA/QSA rules. (Supplied)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

students protest

Red Deer students to walk out this Friday in protest of UCP plan for GSAs and QSAs

Apr 28, 2019 | 9:40 PM

Red Deer students will be taking part in a province-wide walkout this week protesting the United Conservatives Party’s policy around gay-straight and queer-straight alliances.

The walkout scheduled for 9:30-9:50 a.m. on Friday, May 3 is spearheaded by LGBTQ+ ally Aimee, a grade 10 student in Calgary.

Aimee says students from at least five Red Deer schools have indicated to her that they will take part, including at Hunting Hills, Lindsay Thurber, Central Middle, Eastview Middle and Westpark Middle schools.

“We are definitely not trying to undermine the entire government. We realize they were elected by a majority vote, and we respect that, but this is one policy we don’t,” she says.

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“If we’re telling them this is not going to benefit us and we don’t want it, we don’t see how it’s worth the time and effort they would need to put into it when they can focus on other initiatives that would be more productive.”

The matter at hand is the UCP’s promise to revert back to Bill 10 from the NDP’s Bill 24, which prevents teachers from outing GSA/QSA members to their parents.

UCP leader Jason Kenney has said he believes a teacher should have the right to do so if they believe a child is in danger or is dealing with health issues.

Watercolour, a grade nine student at Hunting Hills High School in Red Deer, says she will be most certainly be taking part in the walkout.

“I know my group of friends will be joining me, and I’m almost certain that a few other kids from the QSA and around Hunting Hills will join as well,” she says.

“One of the teachers I talked to said that they can’t actually help with the walkout, but that teacher said they can make sure no one gets in trouble for it.”

Detractors of the walkout have accused teachers and other adults opposed to the UCP’s plan of helping students put this event together.

Watercolour says that’s not giving students enough credit.

“Students aren’t afraid to say their minds about what they believe should be right,” she says.

“I think if we get enough of us, they might start to hear us, but if not enough of us take part in this, not much will change. It’s really just the strength of our group that will resonate with them.”

The Alberta Teachers’ Association issued a statement last week regarding Friday’s walkout:

“We would prefer not to dignify baseless Twitter accusations with a response; however, a clear, unequivocal statement seems to be needed: The Alberta Teachers’ Association has played no role in organizing or supporting the organization of any planned student walkouts,” the ATA said on Twitter.

The walkout comes nearly a month after groups in several cities, including Red Deer, held public rallies opposing the UCP’s plan.