Calgary Unitarian minister Samaya Oakley says the church needs to indicate solidarity with the LGBTQ+ group
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A Calgary church is combining its Easter Sunday service with a drag present to indicate solidarity with the LGBTQ+ group within the face of the Alberta authorities’s proposed coverage modifications that can have an effect on the rights of transgender youth.
This 12 months, Easter Sunday overlaps with the Worldwide Transgender Day of Visibility, and the Calgary Unitarian church is trying to mix each celebrations into an occasion that can assist acknowledge transgender and different queer Calgarians of their congregation. The “Drag Me to Church” occasion will happen at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
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“It doesn’t matter what custom you’re from, I assure you that you’ll have folks in your group who establish on the 2SLGBTQIA+ spectrum — whether or not they’re free to say it or not,” stated Rev. Samaya Oakley, the minister of the Calgary Unitarians. “If we’re really individuals who imagine within the goodness and the inherent love that exists on this world, then we might lengthen that to folks on that spectrum.”
The all-ages occasion will characteristic drag performances, drag queen storytime and a number of audio system. The internet web page for the occasion calls it a “sacred act of protest” to help transgender Albertans by means of the “present political local weather.”
“Certainly one of our ideas is the inherent price and dignity of each individual. And that’s the place we come from when it comes to this work,” stated Oakley.
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The Alberta authorities unveiled plans earlier this 12 months to implement new insurance policies relating to youngsters and LGBTQ+ rights. The modifications embrace bans on gender reassignment surgical procedure for these aged beneath 17, hormone remedy for kids aged 15 and beneath, in addition to limits on sports activities participation for transgender athletes and a requirement of parental consent for a kid to vary their identify or pronouns at college.
“Prematurely encouraging or enabling youngsters to change their very biology or pure development, regardless of how well-intentioned and honest, poses a threat to that youngster’s future that I as premier am not comfy with allowing in our province,” Premier Danielle Smith stated in a January announcement of the modifications.
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Proponents have argued the modifications are essential to parental rights, whereas opponents have stated the constraints on gender-affirming care will negatively have an effect on trans youths.
The federal government is about to desk laws on the proposed modifications this fall.
Tickets for Sunday’s service are free and obtainable at eventbrite.com. The church is at 1703 1st Avenue N.W.
Collections from the service will go to Skipping Stone, a neighborhood not-for-profit that helps trans and gender-diverse Calgarians.
mrodriguez@postmedia.com
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