Community members argue there are concerns transphobia is on the rise in Sask. after the election

While the Saskatchewan Party remains in power after Monday’s election, some advocates, experts, families and transgender youth are worried about the future.

Premier Scott Moe promised in a campaign pledge that his party’s “first order of business” if re-elected would be a policy restricting students from changing rooms based on their assigned sex at birth. Moe said it was a safety issue.

Shala Nufeld said she was scared and disappointed about the future of her non-binary transgender child, Zipp. Zipp said locker rooms and bathrooms in Saskatoon schools are “already stressful” because they are gender-neutral.

“We must have neutral spaces for non-binary, transgender children, and this policy increasingly moves the target further away from spaces that can ultimately be inclusive for everyone,” Shala said.

“How will you achieve this without invading the children and controlling their genitals?”

Zipp said the policy would impact children’s mental health and participation in schools. The 12-year-old boy said it would be “disgusting” if the policy was implemented.

Their family moved from rural Saskatchewan to escape the transphobia Zipp faced when he was in 2nd grade. They worry they will have to move again if the policy is successful.

Zipp pointed out that transphobia is increasing at school and said, “Scott Moe seems to be pushing trans children into mental health problems. It’s like he’s doing this on purpose.” “This is just a step backwards”.

Shala worries the next four years could make Saskatchewan even “more homophobic and transphobic.”

‘Dangerous and unsafe’: trans girl

One transgender girl, who CBC did not identify, said she had heard from her “religious peers” that they were hesitant to transition around her, even though she had transitioned.

“I was added to group chats where I was beaten, insulted, and mocked for being trans. This policy will create a huge disconnect between students and their safety,” she said.

The 9th-grader in Saskatoon had already been “adversely impacted” this year by Bill 137, or the Parental Bill of Rights, which requires parental consent for a child under 16 to use a different gender-related name or pronoun at school.

“Because of this (locker room) policy, I will have to change in the men’s restroom. It is very dangerous and unsafe,” he said. “It’s hard to put it into words when the government is actively working against you.”

‘I’m scared’: parent

Chris said his 9th grade child, Ray, has faced bullying and transphobia since Bill 137 was introduced. CBC is not using their real names for fear that speaking out publicly would bring more hatred towards them.

Chris, who is also an educator, said, “I am angry that my child is being used as a political pawn in their game. I am afraid that transphobia will increase even more.”

“It’s heartbreaking to watch your child come home every day and be told they’re not okay the way they are.”

Ray, who is gender non-conforming, said many transgender children in her Saskatoon schools are traumatized by anonymous use of names or ostracism.

“Locker room politics will make our lives extremely uncomfortable,” they said.

Ray said the locker rooms at his previous schools were unsafe because his peers were “clicking pictures on the counters.”

“When I was in 7th grade, I was called a tranny,” the 14-year-old said. “Now I walk home from school or walk down the halls and people bark or meow at me.”

Barking or meowing is a new form of inhumane bullying towards gay children, Ray said.

‘Politically impotent’: Regina councilor

Ward 3 councilor Andrew Stevens in Regina wrote a “very harsh” letter to Moe shortly after the initial announcement.

“What I’m essentially saying is that you are intellectually and politically powerless because you can’t deal with these serious issues. He deserved it,” Stevens said.

WATCH | The Regina councilor calls Sask. Party’s dressing room policy plan ‘offensive’:

The Regina councilor calls Sask. Party’s dressing room policy plan ‘offensive’

Regina councilor Andrew Stevens sent a strongly worded letter to Sask. Premier Scott Moe has announced his ‘first order of business’ if re-elected will be to create a policy restricting students’ use of locker rooms in schools across the state to the gender they were assigned at birth.

Stevens said it was “sickening” to place a political position on the shoulders of transgender children.

Stevens said he received positive responses to his letter.

“The level of victimization of children struggling with the realities of life right now is astounding,” he said.

Stevens said it’s unfair to portray the issue as an urban problem because children in rural communities are affected. He urges Moe to stop his politics and focus on issues such as classroom complexity in schools.

The group 2SLGBTQ+ condemned the policy

2SLGBTQ+ groups are also voicing their opposition. In a Facebook post, Prince Albert Pride condemned the “anti-trans violence” fueled by the government.

OutSaskatoon also took to social media to condemn the potential policy. Analu Alvarez, director of education there, said Moe’s “discriminatory” comments aimed at advancing his career were concerning.

The organization answers calls from students because they do not feel safe at school.

“Creating safe spaces, especially in schools, is very important,” Alvarez said.

He said more transgender youth have used the organization’s services in the past year.

“We are seeing more young people struggling to speak out, feeling heartbroken, being attacked, afraid of who they are and not being safe at school,” she said.

Alvarez said the “transphobic” policy specifically discriminates against trans girls, who are already the most vulnerable.

“We know it discriminates the most against the most vulnerable people in society,” he said. “It will be dark.”

‘I want to leave Sask.’: Trans child’s mother

Amy, a parent of a transgender child, said she is considering leaving the state permanently. CBC is not identifying her to avoid revealing her child.

“When the policy was announced my first thought was ‘When will this end? How far will it go?’ “It happened,” he said. “This is heartbreaking.”

Amy said her transgender child transitioned before the pronoun bill was passed.

“When Bill 137 became law, we immediately legally changed everything so that all of her documents, her health card, her birth certificate, her passport, were consistent,” he said. “Mainly out of fear that inconsistent documentation would be harmful.”

Fear and violent anger are common among other parents, she said.

“It’s hard to live in a province where you have to be undercover,” he said. “You don’t feel like you can encourage your kids to just be themselves. Your nerves are always on edge.”

‘Misdirection of focus’

Rachel Loewen Walker, an assistant professor in the department of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan and head of the women’s and gender studies program, said the policy promise was “a ploy to get votes.”

“This is a complete misdirection of focus and sets up an incredibly dangerous future for many children in our city,” he said.

Loewen walker said new brunswick reveals similar policies against transgender children and he It backfired as Prime Minister Blaine Higgs lost vote.

“Saskatchewan now remains an outlier and continues to put forward anti-trans policies,” he said, noting that Saskatchewan “leads the way as the most transphobic province.”

“It’s truly a shame that we have a government that attacks children,” he said.

“This tells us that we have a government that does not respect the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Saskatchewan Human Rights Act.”

Loewen Walker said locker rooms often have shower areas and this policy, if implemented, would undoubtedly impact bathroom use. He said the debate goes beyond security.

“Scott Moe frames this security as exclusion, isolation, and separation.”