The “hands off our kids” transphobic and homophobic marches marches we dealt with last September are making a comeback Friday September 20, 2024. Their locations can be viewed here, and if anyone in your ministry wants to know what the concern is, please ask them to read the rest of that website, and to become familiar with the government of Alberta’s proposed transphobic legislation.
A constantly updated list of in-person presence and counter-protests is available here. The private Facebook group 1 Million Voices for Inclusion, which also hosts community-specific chats and planning, is an excellent resource for ideas and support. Last year we held an ecumenical workshop to prepare for these marches; here’s the PowerPoint used for that workshop, with some updates.
Whether you can attend in person or not, or there’s a march in your community or not, there’s a lot we church people can contribute, as individuals and communities of faith.
We can:
Send letters of encouragement to school staff and to any student group or individuals who need support; deliver homemade real church cookies to same; use your church signage and lawn to good effect; write letters to the editor; learn about SOGI and what it really is, as opposed to the myths spread about it; support school boards candidates and members who are supportive of 2SLGBTQIA+ human rights. Offer support to transgender, Two Spirit, and gender-diverse people who are being targeted by this movement.
We can p
ray. Re-read all the radical bible verses about God’s all- encompassing love. And be public, intentional, and explicit about the fact that you’re people of faith (using your best judgement about when and how, of course). When we show up in a positive way, it is noticed!
Albertan members of our Region are reminded that the threat of very transphobic legislation still hangs over our heads, and the government has recently made announcements about beginning to enact pronoun policies in schools, and more. That it has taken close to a year to do this speaks to the level of opposition, and church voices are extremely important in that opposition. We are now an Affirming Regional Council, and Alberta MLAs need to hear from all of us.
If you are making plans or have concerns, please contact your Regional Council office or staff support Julie Graham, jgraham@united-church.ca and we will put you in touch with the Regional Affirming Committee (we do not make their personal emails public). The committees want to know what they can do to support you and all who are targeted. All the very best, and thank you for any action you can take and pastoral care you can offer.
