Alberta tables bills on transgender youth health care, students' pronouns, opt-in sex education
CBC
The Alberta government introduced bills Thursday to prohibit minors from receiving certain types of gender-affirming care, require parents be notified when a child wants to use a different name or pronoun in the classroom, and also require that parents opt-in before their children are taught about sex in class.
Another bill is designed to address the participation of transgender athletes in sport.
The legislative changes were first announced by Premier Danielle Smith in a province-wide video on Jan. 31.
Smith told a news conference prior to the introduction of three bills on Thursday that the measures are in the best interest of youth before they make what she called "life-altering and potentially permanent decisions."
"All three pieces of legislation have been developed, drafted and tabled with the express purpose of striking the right balance for the health, safety and well-being of all children and youth in our province," she said.
"We're also upholding the rights of parents to care for, teach and protect their children."
Proposed changes outlined in the Education Amendment Act, 2024, and the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, include:
The Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, also introduced Thursday, would limit membership on female competitive sports teams to athletes who were female at birth.
The requirement would apply to secondary and post-secondary institutions and competitive amateur sports organizations. Leagues would be encouraged to create co-ed sports divisions to give transgender athletes a place to compete.
The three bills were introduced days before Smith faces a mandatory leadership review at the United Conservative Party's annual general meeting in Red Deer this weekend.
Some factions of the UCP have complained Smith hasn't honoured the promises she made during her successful campaign in 2023. Critics say these bills were crafted to appeal to these members.
The measures have been criticized by many transgender people, their families and allies for opening youth to more psychological trauma due to gender dysphoria.
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said in a scrum prior to the introduction of the bills that Smith is governing for a faction of her party, not for all Albertans.
The measures in the bills will either out students to their parents before they are ready or keep them in the closet, Nenshi added.
