This Wednesday, conservative groups will protest at schools other public locations against the rights of trans and non-binary youth.
Not only are these protests aimed at the most vulnerable people in our communities (trans youth are five times more likely to attempt suicide), but these protests only take attention away from important issues in education.
Alberta has the lowest per-pupil education funding in Canada. Over 2,200 positions for Educational Assistants disappeared last year. School support workers in Alberta have not had cost of living increases in over eight years. Class sizes are increasing. School support workers earn wages below the poverty line. These are just some of the actual issues facing young people and parents.
CUPE Alberta is absolutely opposed to any actions or events that that target the rights of trans and non-binary youth. We will stand for love, acceptance, and solidarity among all 2SLGBTQ+ persons.
School support workers have a scheduled ‘purple shirt day’ for Wednesday. We will carry on with that action, as we believe school funding, and the wages of staff who keep kids safe are important and need to be addressed.
Hatred has no place in Alberta schools.