Alberta, Canada, Premier Danielle Smith and her United Conservative Party just got banned from Pride events in the province after they promised new anti-transgender policies.
A coalition of 14 LGBTQ+ organizations known as Queer Citizens United YYC said on Friday that the ban is in response to a series of policies that Smith promised earlier this year in January, which said that her government would alter policies around gender-affirming care for transgender people. Under the new policies, restrictions would be put in place to set minimum legal age limits on treatments and require that parents be notified for students to change the names and pronouns they go by at school.
Additionally, people under the age of 16 would not be allowed to access puberty blockers or hormone therapies, unless they have already started treatment, under Smith’s proposed guidelines.
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Queer Citizens United YYC said in a press release, addressed to Smith and the UCP, that said, “You may not join our celebrations in June when you plan to attack us in September. Queer rights should not be a political decision. Trans rights are human rights.”
“This is a direct response to Premier Danielle Smith’s stated intention to infringe on the rights, freedoms, and healthcare of the transgender community in Alberta. Her policies, which do not reflect the desires of the Gender and Sexually Diverse community, contradict established medical practices governing transgender healthcare and represent a clear threat to the safety and well-being of our community. Given that no UCP MLAs have expressed their disagreement with these proposed policies, we must extend our decision to the entire UCP caucus,” the group further said in the press release.
When Global News asked the Premier’s office for a comment, they deferred to the UCP’s press secretary, who provided the following statement: “We support and celebrate all Albertans and will continue to work towards ensuring that everyone feels valued, respected and at home in Alberta.”
The press release from Queer Citizens United YYC included the following groups: Calgary Pride, Pride Corner (Edmonton), Lethbridge Pride, Canmore Pride, Banff Pride, Jasper Pride, Central Alberta Pride Society, Red Deer, Queer CA, HOMES, Lacombe Pride, Fort Sask Pride, Okotoks Pride, Foothills Rainbow Connect and Queer Alberta Safety Net.
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