More than 400 Canadian artists in music, film, and literature have come together to speak out against what they see as concerning anti-trans laws in a public letter released by music superstars Tegan and Sara on Sunday.
The letter has been signed by a number of well-known figures including actor Elliot Page, Great Big Sea frontman Alan Doyle, actress Elisha Cuthbert, folk music legend Neil Young, recent Grammy winner Allison Russell, and the two surviving members of classic children’s entertainment act Sharon, Lois and Bram.
The letter states that the anti-trans policies in Canada pose a significant threat to the mental and physical well-being of transgender individuals across the country.
The letter specifically addresses Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s proposed pronoun policies for gender diverse children in schools, as well as proposed restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth. It also highlights similar school-based pronoun policies in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan as examples of discriminatory legislation targeting transgender youth.
During the Juno Awards, Tegan and Sara received the humanitarian award and expressed concerns about government policies targeting trans youth on the red carpet.
Sara Quin said, “Right now we are seeing this wave of anti-trans legislation across Canada, across the United States,” on March 24, just before the awards ceremony.
“So we see our work as being proactive to make sure people understand that this is happening now and not later,” she added.
Tegan Quin urged the government and adults to focus on more urgent issues such as climate change, the housing crisis, and the sharp rise in opioid-related deaths instead of obsessing over these policies.
The artists who signed the letter, including singer Anne Murray, director Deepa Mehta, and author Michael Crummey, are opposed to school-based pronoun policies and proposed bans on hormone therapy. They are calling on all levels of government to halt such harmful legislation.
Other notable signatories include Juno award-winning singer-songwriter Aysanabee, comedian Colin Mochrie, and musical acts Feist, Tokyo Police Club, Metric, and The Beaches. The Tragically Hip’s Paul Langlois, Schitt’s Creek actress Emily Hampshire, and Rufus Wainwright also signed the letter.
The release of the letter coincides with Transgender Day of Visibility, which is dedicated to bringing attention to the discrimination faced by the trans community.
Tegan and Sara were honored by the Junos last week for their work with LGBTQ+ youth, receiving an award presented by Halifax-born actor Elliot Page.
Before presenting the duo with an award, Page emphasized the troubling trend of 2SLGBTQ+ rights being restricted and eliminated worldwide, with devastating effects.
