A school in the Regina Public School (RPS) system sent a message to parents about the upcoming “Celebrating Pride Month” activities at their K-8 school, with some kids in for an eye opening experience..June is Pride Month and the public school has lots of activities to celebrate diversity and become a “gender-friendly school and stomping out homophobia and transphobia in public schools.”.For Grades 5-8, the students have Cat Haines (she/her) as a special transgender guest speaker..Haines works with Justice Trans and is a founding member of the Saskatchewan Trans Health Coalition. .She describes herself as a “genderqueer trans girl, dyke, and academic/artist weirdo” and here is an art video she made describing herself..Haines received a Master’s in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Regina after successfully defending her thesis on “trans-misogyny—the intersectional violence and marginalization faced by trans women and non-binary people assigned male at birth.”.Other activities at the school include “doing sidewalk art to brighten up our school grounds and share messages of inclusivity.”.During the morning announcements, the school will have daily candy contests..Members of the school’s Gay Straight Alliance “will be visiting primary classrooms to read picture books to younger students.”.Some of the suggested transgender picture books include Jacob’s New Dress, William’s Doll, Sparkle Boy, and Jack (not Jackie)..On June 10, it is “colour block day” where all the students in each class wear the same colour from the rainbow..According to the school principal, the school will not be sending out parental consent forms to parents for any of the activities, including Haines’ transgender talk..A source within the school board said that this school is one of the most “pro-trans” schools in the RPS system..Back in 2021, the RPS board voted in favour of “diversity training for every person working for the school district.” .The Catholic school next to the public school has no activities planned..The Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation did not respond to messages seeking comment.
