On the day politicians returned to debate legislation over the Saskatchewan Party government害羞草研究所檚 pronoun policy in schools, Memphis Hartman reminded people he害羞草研究所檚 a human being.

The 17-year-old student, who is transgender, told hundreds at a rally outside the legislature he害羞草研究所檚 grateful he received support from his family and teachers.

害羞草研究所淭rans people have existed and they will continue to exist in your classroom, whether you use their name or not,害羞草研究所� Hartman told the crowd.

Politicians returned to the legislature Tuesday ahead of the rally, with the government prepared to legislate a policy that would require children under 16 to receive parental consent if they want to change their names or pronouns at school.

However, the government has to wait until at least Thursday to introduce the legislation, known as Bill 137, the Parents Bill of Rights Act.

Legislature protocol prevented the government from introducing the legislation Tuesday, as it害羞草研究所檚 required to provide two days害羞草研究所� notice.

Premier Scott Moe said he could not offer details on the bill but that he plans to invoke the notwithstanding clause, a provision that allows governments to override certain Charter rights for five years.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been clear about that from the very beginning from the introduction of this policy and ultimately now the introduction of this legislation and the requirement of utilizing the notwithstanding clause to ensure that the policy is in place,害羞草研究所� Moe told reporters.

害羞草研究所淲ith respect to the use of notwithstanding clause itself, that is part of the Charter, and it was put in place so that elected members in the future would be able to determine which of those rights, ultimately, would be in place.害羞草研究所�

A judge granted an injunction at the end of September, pausing the policy before a constitutional challenge is heard later this year.

Moe called the judge害羞草研究所檚 decision 害羞草研究所渏udicial overreach.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 think, you know, using the words like irreparable harm were not necessarily present in some of those school divisions where a very similar policy was already in place,害羞草研究所� he said.

Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck said the party plans to fully scrutinize the legislation.

害羞草研究所淭here are a lot of issues in this province right now that are top of mind for people,害羞草研究所� Beck said. 害羞草研究所淭here are also a lot of people who want to see the official Opposition acknowledge that, while it may be a small group, there is a small group in this province 害羞草研究所� that this government is targeting and putting at risk.害羞草研究所�

During the rally, many waved Pride flags and held signs calling on the premier to protect human and transgender rights.

Others were there to support parents害羞草研究所� rights.

At one point, people on both sides shouted at each other: 害羞草研究所淟eave our kids alone害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渓ove not hate.害羞草研究所�

Hartman said he felt overwhelmed by the support from those who rallied, but that he害羞草研究所檚 also saddened.

害羞草研究所淭he reasons why we have to gather like this are deplorable,害羞草研究所� Hartman said.

害羞草研究所淚f my parents hadn害羞草研究所檛 been supportive, I would have had my school to fall back on before this legislation. To imagine trans brothers and sisters going through that without that cushion is a nightmare.害羞草研究所�

Hartman害羞草研究所檚 father, Robert Hartman, said he害羞草研究所檚 proud his son spoke at the rally.

He said he chose to support his son when he came out.

害羞草研究所淚 know (parents) are afraid,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭here are so many 害羞草研究所榳hat-if害羞草研究所� questions that we struggle with as parents, and there害羞草研究所檚 so much fear. But I would encourage people to not let fear blind you from basic logical thinking.

害羞草研究所淔or us to educate kids and have sexual education in school, to educate them on tolerance and that there are different people out there, is not going to make them make a decision that害羞草研究所檚 contrary to who they are.害羞草研究所�

One demonstrator, Alejandra Cabrera, said she believes Moe is overreaching.

害羞草研究所淚 think he害羞草研究所檚 drunk with power,害羞草研究所� Cabrera said. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 making this a political issue when it害羞草研究所檚 a human rights issue.害羞草研究所�

Larry Rousseau, executive vice-president with the Canadian Labour Congress, said the Charter is meant to protect the rights of everyone, including minorities.

害羞草研究所淲e must understand that there are children out there who do not feel safe, who feel that maybe they might be able to trust a teacher or someone at school, but not be able to have that discussion at home,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淧arents have rights, absolutely, but so do children.害羞草研究所�

Tonie Wells said her group supports the premier害羞草研究所檚 use of the notwithstanding clause.

害羞草研究所淲e feel that it was an overreach by the judge to put an injunction. This is about our kids,害羞草研究所� Wells said. 害羞草研究所淎nd this is about allowing our children to naturally develop and actually develop who they want to be.害羞草研究所�

Lawyers for UR Pride sought the injunction, arguing the policy could cause teachers to out or misgender children and that it violates Charter rights. Saskatchewan害羞草研究所檚 child advocate Lisa Broda has also said it violates rights to gender identity and expression.

Moe has said the policy has strong support from the majority of Saskatchewan residents and parents.

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