Katheryn “Kathy” Gladys Drake is a former student at Mount Royal University (MRU) who resides in Calgary. She is currently facing a defamation lawsuit filed by a trans activist for two of her posts on X and comments made during a podcast interview with parents’ rights advocate Emily Duggan. This fundraiser is to help Kathy cover the substantial costs of her legal defense as she stands up for her right to free expression—a right that underpins the freedom of every Canadian. This isn’t just Kathy’s battle; it’s a fight for the core principles of a democratic society. By supporting Kathy, you’re defending the right of all Canadians to speak freely.

ABOUT KATHY

Kathy is a passionate, outspoken, and principled individual. She is vocal about issues she considers vital to society, particularly those involving parental rights, the protection of minors, and freedom of expression. She embraces a direct and unfiltered communication style as she values truth-seeking over adhering to social conventions like excessive politeness, and she enjoys engaging with diverse perspectives even when she fundamentally disagrees.

Born and raised in Alberta, Kathy grew up as a fierce tomboy, playing football and remaining undefeated in arm wrestling against boys until grade 11, when physical differences post-puberty became clear. She quit ballet for karate, earning a black belt by age 14 and competing against males in light-contact competitions until 16. Rejecting Barbies and tea sets for forts and slingshots, she loved the outdoors and worked as a lifeguard, climbing instructor, and camp counselor. Kathy earned an Applied Degree in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership from Mount Royal College (later to become MRU). Following the firing of Professor Frances Widdowson, she decided to resume her studies at MRU in part because she wanted to investigate ideological shifts at her beloved alma mater. She documented her findings in the January 2025 Newsletter for the Society for Academic Freedom and Scholarship (SAFS), Issue 100, titled “How Bad Are Things Really? An MRU Case Study.” Her experiences as a tomboy and parent shape her advocacy for child protection and informed consent in gender-related policies.

CONTEXT

In late 2024, Alberta’s Legislative Assembly introduced and debated two bills sparking intense public discourse on gender issues and the protection of minors across Canada:

• Bill 26: Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (No. 2) proposed amending the Health Professions Act to prohibit sex reassignment surgery for minors and, with limited exemptions, certain hormone therapy drugs for gender dysphoria.
• Bill 27: Education Amendment Act, 2024 proposed updating the Education Act to require parental notification for student requests to use preferred names or pronouns, mandate consent for those under 16, and require parental opt-in for materials on gender identity, sexual orientation, or human sexuality.

Organizations like the Skipping Stone Scholarship Foundation, a Calgary-based charity supporting trans and gender-diverse individuals, launched the Trans Affirming Legal Fund (TALF) to prepare to challenge these laws through litigation, should they pass.

Both bills received Royal Assent on December 5th, 2024, with supporters celebrating them as essential for protecting children and parental rights, and critics arguing they restrict access to interventions such as puberty suppressants and “gender-affirming” surgeries for youth. 

THE INCIDENT

Kathy encountered Mason Weakley, a woman who identifies as non-binary and trans, and who wants others to refer to her using the pronouns “they” and “them”, at a public booth in MRU’s publicly accessible Wyckham House Student Centre. Mason was selling goods to raise funds for the above-mentioned Trans Affirming Legal Fund (TALF) when Kathy, also a student at the time, happened to walk by. 

Kathy engaged Mason in a civil conversation about their differing views on the proposed laws. Mason offered some detail on her views and fundraising efforts, and Kathy noted that they were on "opposite sides of the political spectrum.” No threats or hostility occurred.

When she left, Kathy took a photo of Mason and the TALF booth in the public space and later expressed her concerns about Mason's advocacy on her X account (@nulamoonsnail). She did not threaten Mason, nor did she share any of Mason’s private information–rather, she shared her honest opinion about a fellow student’s political activism on campus.

Her beliefs can be summarized as follows:

• Parental rights are essential: Kathy believes parents have a fundamental right to be involved in decisions affecting their children, particularly regarding gender identity changes like name or pronoun changes (“social transitions”) and harmful medical interventions in the name of “gender”. She views advocacy for minors’ access to any of these interventions without parental consent as “grooming” behaviour that undermines parental authority and child safety, and thus thinks those who advocate for these policies can rightly be described as “groomers” in the ideological sense.
• Freedom of speech is a universal right: Kathy strongly believes in free expression as a cornerstone of a free society. She is of the opinion that everyone should be able to express controversial or offensive opinions, even if incorrect, without fear of censorship or legal retaliation.
• Gender ideology harms children: Kathy views the teaching of gender ideology as harmful to impressionable children. She believes it is an ideology of “self-confusion and self-hate,” rather than self-acceptance, that risks steering youth toward harmful pathways. Drawing on sources like the WPATH Files and efforts by Genspect and Mia Hughes, she is of the opinion that adolescence is a critical developmental stage that should be supported naturally, not disrupted by medical interventions with irreversible risks.
• Pronoun use should not be compelled: Kathy opposes being forced to use preferred pronouns (e.g., “they/them” for Mason), arguing that such mandates infringe on her free speech. She believes individuals should be free to use language aligned with their observations (e.g., “she/her” based on perceived biological sex).

She later appeared in an hour-long Rumble interview on “Moms Against the Norm” (a parental rights channel), discussing her encounter at MRU, her views on gender issues, and broader policy concerns. In the video, she specifically discusses the difference between a “groomer” (i.e. ideological grooming) vs a “pedophile groomer,” evidence that by her use of the term “groomer,” she was not implying Mason was or is a pedophile.

THE LAWSUIT

On July 4th, 2025, Mason filed the defamation lawsuit, alleging Katheryn's posts and interview harmed her reputation. She claims Katheryn’s words implied she was a “pedophile” and a “danger to children,” and is seeking over $150,000 in damages, an injunction to remove the posts, and costs, alleging “transphobic hate speech.” (The full Statement of Claim can be found here.)

THE DEFENCE

Kathy filed her Statement of Defence, denying defamation and arguing her comments were honest opinions on a matter of urgent public interest during active debate—not malice or falsehoods. (The full Statement of Defence can be found here.)

WHY THIS CASE MATTERS

This case is a precedent-setting battle against cancel culture and lawfare, which uses lawsuits to impose crippling financial burdens and silence dissent. Such tactics threaten free speech, essential for robust discourse on matters like child protection.

As George Orwell said, “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” Kathy’s outspokenness has made her a target, but her fight is for everyone’s right to speak freely on issues affecting children and society. Supporting her defense ensures voices like hers aren’t silenced.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Donate: Every dollar funds Kathy’s legal fees (amounting to around $70K so far), court costs, and related expenses, keeping her defence strong. If you wish to contribute directly via e-transfer, Kathy's email address is: katheryngladys@gmail.com.
• Share: Spread this fundraiser on social media, email, or with friends to amplify its impact.

All funds will be used solely for Kathy’s legal defense, with updates provided for transparency.

On behalf of Kathy, THANK YOU for standing with her in this fight for free speech and parental rights.