More than 20 École Olds High School (EOHS) students walked out of class Friday, May 3, in solidarity with others across the province.
They were protesting the United Conservative Party (UCP) government's proposed policy on gay-straight alliances, which are groups that provide a safe environment for LGBTQ + students.
During this spring's election campaign, Premier Jason Kenney said if elected, his government would allow teachers or other school officials to inform parents if their child had joined a gay-straight alliance -- if they deemed it the right thing to do.
That would overturn the former NDP government's Bill 24, which banned schools from doing so and essentially revert to legislation passed before the NDP came to power four years ago.
Some critics fear in some cases, children may be punished if their parents learn they have joined a gay-straight alliance. They say youth should be allowed to "come out" only when they're ready.
At 9:30 a.m., the front doors of École Olds High School opened and out walked more than 20 students looking to make their voice heard and count.
The group walked down Highway 2A, past the Olds Aquatic Centre and Olds College until they reached the corner of Highway 27, carrying signs and looking for support from passing motorists.
Students were back to their classrooms around 10 a.m. except for a few students who spoke to the Albertan but have asked to remain anonymous.
“Hopefully it’ll open some more eyes and give more support recognizing that taking Bill 24 away or altering it isn’t protecting GSAs,” said student A.
“They’re (GSAs) supposed to be a safe place and without Bill 24 they can’t be used to their full potential,” said student B.
Student C feels that this was a great opportunity to open some eyes locally to the issues they face.
“A lot of times people are like, 'we’re a small town' and think that teenagers don’t care about political issues because some of us aren’t 18 and couldn’t vote,” said student C.
Student B recalls watching the election and seeing the UCP win so many seats and feeling scared for the future of GSAs. The UCP won 63 seats, the NDP 24.
“I hope the UCP doesn’t ignore the students they’re representing,” said student B.
In terms of a reaction from the provincial government, student C thinks there will be a response but not the one they hope for.
“I think there will be a reaction somewhat, but I don’t think it will be as big as people are hoping because the UCP doesn’t care. They didn’t care to begin with," student C said.
“There are definitely going to be people who see this and say ‘we should care about this more,’ but there are also ones who are going to say ‘it’s just kids' and they don’t care.
“I don’t think Jason Kenney will say much because he’s Jason Kenney, but I hope that the people under him might try to get in his ear that this isn’t right,” student C added.
