Sam Ellwood (right) and Dustin Archibald (left) spoke to Grande Prairie City Council at Monday's meeting. (Screen grab from a You Tube video).

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

Safety concerns for queer kids brings delegation to Grande Prairie city council

Oct 19, 2023 | 3:35 PM

A group of 14 people from the Peace Country Progressive Alliance came to the council Monday, October 16, over worries about the safety of queer kids.

Seventeen-year-old Sam Ellwood spoke on behalf of the delegation. She says she fears kids will be in danger if they are outed.

One concern is the implications of parents wanting to know what names and pronouns their children are using at school.

“Accusing schools of turning their children trans by accepting their chosen pronouns and wanting to be informed if their child has changed the pronouns they go by at school. I believe that this could put many trans. youth in danger.”

Ellwood refutes allegations of teachers trying to turn kids gay.

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“Even if teachers were trying to turn your children gay, it would be better to have a gay child than a dead one or one who won’t speak at school or one who is afraid to be themselves and experiment with their personality.”

“Whether you think they’re gay or trans or not isn’t the debate. The debate is if you care enough about your child to allow them the freedom to do that.”

Ellwood says she has lived here most of her life and had recently felt “disheartened and frightened” by what she sees in Grande Prairie.

“I feel we used to be a more supportive place than we are now and it’s frightening to see that we have a lot more open hatred.”

“I understand the way that acceptance works is usually in a swing, so we’re having a swing back but it’s still really hurtful to witness.”

Mayor Jackie Clayton told the delegation she appreciated them coming and sharing their concerns, adding council has been supportive of several events and organizations not only during Pride Month but also at other times of the year.

Ellwood says she was hoping for more from council. Adding that for some people, quote, “having political figures that they believe in disagree with something can lead them to question it, even if they previously agreed with it.”