Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre are assisting Alberta resident Benita Pedersen, who is defending herself against a human rights complaint after distributing flyers opposing a proposed rainbow crosswalk in Westlock.
Flyer encouraged public debate over proposed crosswalk
In June 2023, the Town of Westlock proposed painting a rainbow crosswalk featuring colours associated with progressive pride and transgender inclusion.
After learning of the proposal, Ms. Pedersen, a local DJ, children’s entertainer, event coordinator, and workshop facilitator, created and distributed a flyer encouraging residents to contact elected officials and oppose the project.
Ms. Pedersen said she distributed the flyer as part of a broader public discussion affecting children and families, explaining, “Based on my personal experiences in interacting with parents and children, I have learned that the practice of ‘gender affirmation’ harms kids more than it helps. When I composed the flyer, one of my objectives was to warn parents about the potential consequences of children pursuing the pathway of transgenderism.”
Human rights complaint challenged political expression
On June 19, 2023, Laurie Hodge, then a private citizen and now a member of Westlock Town Council, filed a human rights complaint alleging that Ms. Pedersen’s flyer discriminated on the basis of gender, gender identity, and gender expression.
On October 7, 2025, the Director of the Alberta Human Rights Commission referred the complaint to the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal for a hearing.
The Director, who later assumed carriage of the complaint, sought to exclude many of Ms. Pedersen’s proposed witnesses on the basis that their evidence was allegedly irrelevant.
Case raised broader questions about freedom of expression
Lawyers funded by the Justice Centre are assisting Ms. Pedersen in defending the complaint, arguing that Albertans must remain free to express their views on matters of public concern without facing human rights proceedings.
Constitutional lawyer Allison Pejovic said, “Albertans should be free to express their opinions on controversial topics without being accused of hatred.”
A two-week hearing before the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal was scheduled for September 2026.
