Colin
Calgary Unitarian minister Samaya Oakley says the church wants to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community
Article content
A Calgary church is combining its Easter Sunday service with a drag show to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in the face of the Alberta government’s proposed policy changes that will affect the rights of transgender youth.
This year, Easter Sunday overlaps with the International Transgender Day of Visibility, and the Calgary Unitarian church is looking to blend both celebrations into an event that will help recognize transgender and other queer Calgarians in their congregation. The “Drag Me to Church” event will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
“No matter what tradition you’re from, I guarantee you that you will have people in your community who identify on the 2SLGBTQIA+ spectrum — whether they are free to say it or not,” said Rev. Samaya Oakley, the minister of the Calgary Unitarians. “If we are truly people who believe in the goodness and the inherent love that exists in this world, then we would extend that to people on that spectrum.”
The all-ages event will feature drag performances, drag queen storytime and multiple speakers. The web page for the event calls it a “sacred act of protest” to support transgender Albertans through the “current political climate.”
“One of our principles is the inherent worth and dignity of every person. And that’s where we come from in terms of this work,” said Oakley.
The Alberta government unveiled plans earlier this year to implement new policies regarding children and LGBTQ+ rights. The changes include bans on gender reassignment surgery for those aged under 17, hormone therapy for children aged 15 and under, as well as limits on sports participation for transgender athletes and a requirement of parental consent for a child to change their name or pronouns at school.
“Prematurely encouraging or enabling children to alter their very biology or natural growth, no matter how well-intentioned and sincere, poses a risk to that child’s future that I as premier am not comfortable with permitting in our province,” Premier Danielle Smith said in a January announcement of the changes.
Albertans divided on proposed gender policies for youth: poll
Alberta policies on transgender youth likely to face legal challenges, experts say
LGBTQ+ advocates slam Danielle Smith’s policy announcement
Proponents have argued the changes are crucial to parental rights, while opponents have said the limitations on gender-affirming care will negatively affect trans youths.
The government is set to table legislation on the proposed changes this fall.
Tickets for Sunday’s service are free and available at eventbrite.com. The church is at 1703 1st Street N.W.
Collections from the service will go to Skipping Stone, a local not-for-profit that supports trans and gender-diverse Calgarians.
