In an open letter released on Sunday by audio legends Tegan and Sara, more than 400 American artists from the worlds of music, video, and literature denounce what they call “alarming and harmful” anti-trans laws.
Elliot Page, Great Big Sea singer Alan Doyle, Elisha Cuthbert, folk songs star Neil Young, Allison Russell, the two surviving members of the classic children’s entertainment group Sharon, Lois, and Bram, are among the actors on the list of celebrities who signed the letter.
The letter states that “the anti-trans policies in place in Canada go beyond discrimination and pose a serious risk to trans people’s mental and physical well-being across the country.”
The email addresses the proposed restrictions on children seeking gender-affirming care as well as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s designed word policies for gender different children in schools.
It also draws attention to similar school-based word laws in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick as examples of unfair legislation aimed at transgender youth.
Tegan and Sara received the charitable honor last week at the Juno Awards, and the sisters spoke out about their concerns about the government’s policies aimed at trans children on the red carpet.
“Best now we are seeing this flood of anti-trans regulations across Canada, across the United States,” Sara Quin said March 24, events ahead of the awards service.
“So we interpret our job as being proactive to make sure people are aware that this is occurring right now and not afterward.”
Tegan Quin cited climate change, the housing problems, and sharp rises in opioid-related incidents as examples of governments and all the people “out there that are obsessing over these stuff.”
Letter released on Transgender Day of Awareness
The authors of the text, including artist Michael Crummey, producer Deepa Mehta, and singer Anne Murray, express their opposition to these proposed bans on hormone treatment and call on all levels of government to put a stop to such dangerous policy.
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 open letter.
The transgender community’s awareness of discrimination is at the same time as Transgender Day of Visibility, which is held each year.
Tegan and Sara received an award from Page, who is from the city, last week in Halifax for their work with 2SLGBTQ+ youth.
“We are at a time in history where the rights of 2SLGBTQ+ people are being revoked, restricted and eliminated throughout the world, and the effects of which are devastating,” Page said before presenting the duo with the award.
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