The UCP’s proposed legislation is an attack on 2SLGBTQ+ youth

Since coming into power in 2019, the United Conservative Party (UCP) has failed in many aspects of governance. Yet, the new proposed legislation regarding 2SLGBTQ+ youth takes the cake.

At the start of 2024, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith unveiled new policies regarding the 2SLGBTQ+ youth community. Unfortunately, despite being labeled as policies to help queer youth, they will ultimately only create a culture of fear instead.

There were a number of new policy measures introduced, including banning bottom surgeries for those 17 and under. Parental consent will be required for name changes for those 15 and under. As well, parents would need to opt their children into education that covers gender identity and sexual orientation. Currently, parents have the option to opt-out. Additionally, the policies would ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports leagues. Unfortunately, these just scratch the surface of the proposed policies.

Smith claimed that these policies have the interests of children in mind, adding that these are adult decisions to make. However, these new policies put trans and 2SLGBTQ+ youth at risk. Additionally, some of the measures create a culture of misinformation surrounding existing policies regarding 2SLGBTQ+ health care. In the end, these policies only foster a climate of fear, primarily by banning procedures that never happened in the first place.

For example, the UCP wants to ban procedures that aren’t — or rarely are — performed in the first place. Not only is this completely unnecessary, but it builds on an existing fear culture. Certain people may use these policies to express further negative attitudes towards the 2SLGBTQ+ population in Alberta. Additionally, it might make it more difficult for this marginalized group to receive further care.

In fact, Canada never performed bottom surgeries for minors 17 and under in the first place. Unnecessarily introducing this policy measure just makes Smith and the UCP appear more restrictive. By creating this rule, the provincial government is implying that this procedure has been performed for this age group all along — which is not the case. To suggest otherwise only contributes to the spread of misinformation. It also further showcases their disregard towards the 2SLGBTQ+ community. You can’t ban a procedure that Canadian doctors don’t perform on minors in the first place.

The UCP also wants to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those 15 and under. While doctors don’t normally prescribe puberty blockers to this age group already, doctors say they use puberty blockers to give people time to reinforce their decisions. Adding this to legislation, when it already doesn’t happen often, further perpetuates fear.

Along with the fear culture that Smith is amplifying, is the spread of misinformation that could result from the proposed policies. If our own government is creating legislation based on inaccurate information, then Alberta’s 2SLGBTQ+ community and the rest of the province will ultimately suffer. I don’t know about you, but unless Smith magically got her medical license, I am uninterested in anything she has to say regarding decisions about people’s bodies — especially those of a vulnerable group. 

We must protect an already at-risk group from these new proposed policies from the UCP. Studies show that trans youth are five times more likely to attempt, and have thoughts about, suicide. These policies will only exacerbate pre-existing concerns. Instead of shunning trans youth and creating legislation that harms them even more, the government needs to protect and support them. It must increase and expand systems such as mental health support, and access to gender-affirming medical care. This will allow trans and 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Alberta to not only feel supported, but thrive in their identities. 

Not surprisingly, people stood up for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Back in February, hundreds of protestors gathered in Edmonton to push back. They said that it is pushing a misinformed and false narrative. Not only is the 2SLGBTQ+ community angry, but so are parents of trans and 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Some parents feel that their child’s mental health and human rights are at an even greater risk. It’s encouraging to see that community members and parents are opposed to these measures. This is exactly the type of support that the 2SLGBTQ+ community needs. While protests and support only go so far, it’s more than what the provincial government is currently providing.

Teachers also expressed concerns over the policy changes. One of which would require parental consent for those 15 and under who want to use a different name or pronouns at school. Students who are 16 or 17 won’t require permission, but the school has to let the parents know.

To me, this particular policy is what endangers 2SLGBTQ+ students the most. If students are comfortable enough to go by a different name or pronouns at school, then they clearly find school, or a particular educator, to be a safe space. Some students may be comfortable enough with their parents to have previously informed them. However, other students may not feel comfortable telling their parents. The policy could essentially “out” the student to the parents, which can be harmful for mental health, identity, and physical safety. This new policy completely disregards the student’s school as their safe space where they can use their preferred name or pronouns. The government has no right to take away these limited safe spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ youth. 

The most questionable aspect of this entire proposed legislation is why the UCP is so concerned about how 2SLGBTQ+ youth are expressing themselves. If they really did care, they would create and implement more support systems for this community, especially its youth. The upkeep and availability of mental health support and safe places for 2SLGBTQ+ youth to gather is extremely important. However, the UCP is focused on controlling the 2SLGBTQ+ youth population by enforcing rules for medical procedures that were rarely performed in the first place. 

The proposed legislation by the UCP government regarding gender affirming care for trans and 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Alberta is heinous, to say the least. It only creates a culture of fear towards this group, and bases itself on inaccurate information. The 2SLGBTQ+ community of Alberta does not deserve to suffer further at the hands of its own government. With this new proposed legislation, I can only say that I am ashamed to live in a province under a government that chooses to tear down the 2SLGBTQ+ youth community, instead of uplifting it.