Activists respond to transphobic backlash ahead of Saskatchewan Rush Pride game

For the first time, Saskatchewan Rush will be sporting a Pride jersey in support of the LGBTQ community at a matchup with the Vancouver Warriors at Saskatoon's SaskTel Centre Saturday.

But when the Saskatoon-based lacrosse team announced that drag artist Karma K, who is transgender, would perform the halftime show at the game, comments on social media, including Twitter and Reddit, quickly became hateful and transphobic.

Tyler Wawryk, director of business operations for Saskatoon Entertainment Group — which owns and operates both Saskatchewan Rush and the Saskatoon Blades hockey team — said those who contribute to anti-trans backlash are part of a small minority of people. 

"We saw a lot of online backlash prior to our Blades Pride [event] back in November, and when we opened up the doors for the game, there was zero issue," Wawryk said.

"Everybody that came out was very supportive, and in fact we had a lot of new fans come out and enjoy the night for the first time. So I'm confident that we'll have a similar event this Saturday."

Warwyk said the organization started being more vocal about Pride after a junior hockey player came out publicly in 2021.

"That really kind of sparked that conversation amongst our organization, giving us that opportunity to have those conversations with our staff and our players," said Wawryk.

He said Rush lacrosse players are 100 per cent on board with Saturday's Pride game.

The game isn't the first time trans rights have been a hot topic in Saskatoon. There have been ongoing protests outside the Shaw Centre after a trans woman tried to use a women's changeroom at the centre. Counter-protests have also been held at the centre in response.

Local drag king and trans-rights activist Blake Tait has led the counter-protest each Saturday for the last three weeks, and said the trans-rights activists always outnumber the opponents, who he called "the loud minority."

"I have been trying to use my platform as a drag performer in an advocacy light, and have brought a counter-protest to them every time, so they know that ... they do have opponents"

Tait said he's happy to see Saskatchewan Rush hold a Pride event. 

"It's exciting that our local teams are still supporting drag and understanding that drag is something that's for everyone, and it is just another form of entertainment in the same way that your cheerleaders are a form of entertainment."

Regina resident Cat Haines, executive director of the transgender advocacy organization JusticeTrans, said there's been a troubling escalation in the language being used by those opposing trans rights.