Calgary students walk out in protest of Alberta’s transgender policies

Students at Calgary’s Western Canada High School are walking out to protest the Alberta government’s legislation regarding trans youth.

‘Honk 4 Trans Rights’ was just one of several signs students at the 17 Avenue SW high school held on Friday, as students across several schools across the city participated in the move. It comes after a similar walkout was held last year.

The legislation includes parental notification for pronoun changes, and having parents opt-in rather than opt-out when lessons centre around gender identity, sexual orientation, or sexuality.

Evan Morin, a co-organizer of the walkout, believes there needs to be more pressure placed on the government for this legislation.

“I think walkouts need to happen all the time until this legislation is fixed, and this issue has been solved, because it’s unfair, it’s attacking people who are vulnerable and innocent,” Morin said.

“It doesn’t have any good for the rest of the city.”

The protesting students say the government’s new legislation regarding trans youth in schools will harm their vulnerable peers.

“As a transgender woman in this school, I am concerned that my friends could all be outed to their families if it is potentially not safe for them. Not everyone has a loving home to go back to like I do,” said Brooke Warsaba.

The amendment to the education act which received royal assent in December, comes as U.S. President Donald Trump moved to recognize male and female as the only two genders in an executive order.

“We just got to the point of equality and then everyone’s suddenly wanting to take it away. We’ve always been fighting and it feels like we’re going back,” said Forest Tanner.

“It’s awful that we are still fighting for human rights in 2025.”

In a statement to CityNews, the province says students have a variety of ways to express themselves and “should feel welcomed, cared for, safe and respected while at school.”

The Calgary Board of Education says the walkout is not a sanctioned event but does not prevent students from leaving class to participate. It says students not in class will be marked as absent.

On the other hand, the protesting students say they will continue with walkouts against the trans policy changes until the government reverses course.