Allies and members of the transgender and non-binary community gathered outside Calgary City Hall on Feb. 3. to share their disapproval of the new measures proposed by Premier Danielle Smith. A similar protest was held in Edmonton and later in the week, students in in Calgary walked out of their classes to signal their opposition.
The new legislation will see changes to what gender affirming care young people in Alberta can access, and at what age. Any surgeries, hormone treatments and prescribing of puberty blockers will now require parental notification and consent.
Approval will also be needed from a physician and a psychologist before treatment can begin.
The new measures will see some of the following:
- Transgender women will be banned from entering women’s sports leagues.
- Parental consent must be given for their child to sit in classes where the teacher may discuss topics of gender identity and sexuality.
- Parental consent must be given for a school to change a name or pronouns of a student under the age of 15.
- Gender affirmation therapies are not allowed for children aged 15 or under.
- Top and bottom surgeries will only be permitted to those aged 18 and above.
Conversations surrounding youth suicide prevention have since increased, with transgender youth already being five times more likely to experience suicidal ideation in Canada, in comparison to cisgender heterosexual adolescents – according to a 2022 study.
PHOTOS: ZACH PAYNE
