Alberta tables bills on transgender youth health care, students’ pronouns, opt-in sex education

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: 

• Students would not be able to learn about sex education, gender identity, and sexual orientation in school unless their parents have opted-in to them receiving that instruction.
• Any third-party instructional material would need approval from Alberta Education before it is used in the classroom.
• Schools would have to notify and receive permission from parents when a child under 15 wants to use a pronoun or name different from what they were given at birth. Older students aged 16 and 17 would require parental notification.
• Minors under age 15 would not be allowed to receive hormone therapy and puberty blockers. Patients who started the treatment before proclamation of the bill would be exempt. Minors who are 16 and 17 would be able to receive the medication with the approval of parents, a physician and psychologist.
• Physicians would be prohibited from performing top and bottom gender surgeries on minors. Bottom surgery is already restricted to patients over the age of 18. All surgeries are currently performed in Quebec. 

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. 

He said Smith is “punching down” on vulnerable teens who are at a high risk of suicide and self-harm.

“This callous, venal, evil act that they’re bringing forward today is just so she can get a few votes on a Saturday night in Red Deer,” Nenshi said.  “And you know what? Albertans deserve way better than that.”

Egale Canada, a national 2SLGBTQ+ group, and Skipping Stone Foundation, an Alberta group supporting trans and gender-diverse youth, said Thursday afternoon that they will be taking legal action against the Alberta government bills.