Over 400 Canadian artists, led by Teagan and Sara, have signed onto an open letter titled ‘Artists Against Anti-Trans Legislation in Canada’ to highlight the need for “inclusive spaces, healthcare and freedoms.”
They say Canada is “not immune to the global attack on the trans community.”
The letter was published yesterday on National Trans Day of Visibility. It follows a slew of anti-trans rhetoric in the country, including proposed bans on hormone treatment and gender-affirming surgery in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan.
Among the signatories are Elliot Page, Adam DiMarco, BLOND:ISH, Carly Rae Jepson, Neil Young, and Alanis Morissette.
The letter calls out Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s push to inform parents of any name or gender identity changes students make at school, which she announced last month.
“The anti-trans policies taking root in Canada go beyond discrimination — they present a clear risk to the mental and physical well-being of trans individuals throughout the country,” it reads.
This push comes after last week’s Juno Awards, where Teagan and Sara used their time on the red carpet to condemn anti-trans legislation in Canada and the U.S.
It also follows a massive protest in Canada rejecting these policies. In October, hundreds of people in multiple cities of Saskatchewan gathered to oppose the newly-approved ‘Parent’s Bill of Rights’. Similarly to Smith’s proposal, it requires parental consent for students’ to change their name and preferred pronouns.
“The anti-trans policies taking root in Canada go beyond discrimination – they present a clear risk to the mental and physical well-being of trans individuals throughout the country,” the letter adds.
The open letter speaks directly to community leaders and local and federal policymakers- pleading with them to put a stop to the “concerning surge in anti-trans policy.”
