OUR RESPONSE TO NEW ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION IN ALBERTA

DECEMBER 19th, 2024

Northern Mosaic Network believes that all youth should have access to safe, timely, and affirming healthcare. We know that gender affirming care is an essential and lifesaving form of healthcare for gender diverse youth. We are committed to advocating for the right of all Two Spirit, trans, non-binary kids in the NWT to receive safe and accessible gender affirming care. 

On December 3, the Government of Alberta passed Bill 26, which bans gender-affirming hormonal treatments, including puberty blockers, and gender-affirming surgeries for youth under 18. This bill became law in Alberta on December 5. This ban goes against the advice of doctors, the majority of which agree that gender affirming care is a medically necessary and often lifesaving form of healthcare for gender diverse youth. This bill violates the right of Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary youth to access essential healthcare, and it puts their lives at risk. In the US, a 2024 peer-reviewed study found that the introduction of anti-trans laws increased suicide attempts by trans and non-binary youth by up to 72%. 

At the same time, the Government of Alberta also passed two other anti-trans bills - Bills 27 and 29. Bill 27 requires teachers to get pre-approval from the Ministry of Education for any classroom materials related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and human sexuality, to allow parents to opt in for any lessons on sexual orientation, gender identity, or human sexuality, and to gain parental consent for kids under 16 to use a different name or pronouns at school. This bill restricts student learning and forcibly outs Two Spirit, trans, non-binary students. Bill 29 effectively gives schools and sporting organizations the ability to ban trans girls and women from sport leagues. It restricts some Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary youth from playing sports. 

We stand in solidarity with our 2SLGBTQIA+ neighbours in Alberta, and we are deeply saddened by the harm that these bills are causing, especially for Two Spirit, trans and non-binary youth and trans women and girls. We are also very concerned about the impacts that these bills will have on 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the NWT, and in particular, the impact that Bill 26 will have on gender diverse youth. Currently, NWT youth seeking gender affirming care are referred out of territory to a pediatric endocrinologist at the Gender Program in Edmonton. One of the most common forms of gender affirming care for youth are puberty blockers, which put puberty on pause and are proven to be safe and effective. For gender diverse youth, the changes that come with puberty can be extremely distressing, and being able to start puberty blockers at the right time can improve their mental wellbeing and give them time to make decisions. When Bill 26 became law, it made it illegal to prescribe puberty blockers to youth under 18 in Alberta. Given this, it seems unlikely that the Gender Program will continue to be able to provide specialist care to NWT youth. However, currently, there are no other referral options for NWT youth seeking gender affirming care. An urgent solution is needed to ensure the continuity of care for gender diverse NWT youth.  

In January, when the UCP first announced their intentions to introduce these bills, we sent a letter to the GNWT to bring up our concerns and invite them to collaborate with us on this issue. We asked them to create a proactive plan to ensure the continuity of care for Two Spirit, trans and non-binary youth in the NWT and to address our community’s concerns about how these policies will impact 2SLGBTQIPA+ youth, adults, and families in the NWT. In February, we received a response assuring us that health care services for Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary youth in the NWT will continue to be available, an alternative referral location will be provided when needed, and DHSS is reaching out to the Government of Alberta to seek clarity on what the proposed policies mean for NWT residents receiving care in Alberta. You can read our letter and the GNWT’s response here. However, as far as we know, an alternate referral location has not been identified. 

We are thankful to have a government that supports the right of gender diverse youth to access gender affirming healthcare, and we continue to be open to collaboration. However, we are concerned that changes aren’t happening fast enough given the urgency of this matter. Finding a referral location outside of Alberta, with the capacity to take NWT patients, and establishing a new referral process will take time. And this is time that gender diverse youth in the NWT, some of whom have already spent years on waitlist, don’t have - they need support now. We will continue to engage with service providers, decision makers, and political leaders to advocate for the continuity of care for gender diverse youth in the NWT and for proactive plans to protect healthcare access for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the NWT if Alberta continues to pass more anti-2SLGBTQIA+ bills.

We’re not dealing with this alone. 2SLGBTQIA+ people and organizations across Alberta are doing amazing work to show up for gender diverse youth and oppose the rise of anti-trans hate in their province. Calgary-based Skipping Stone, Egale Canada, and several families in Alberta are taking the Government of Alberta to court to challenge Bill 26. You can read more about Bill 26, and the legal action against it, here.

If you are worried about how Alberta’s Bill 26 will impact you and your family, we invite you to reach out to us to share your concerns or access our Peer Support Program. You can email our Mental Health and Community Support Coordinator, Emily (she/her), at coordinator@northernmosaic.net.

Please note that NMN’s office will be closed from December 20, 2024 to January 5, 2025. If you need support during this time, you can reach out to the Community Counselling Program or one of the following helplines:

Trans Lifeline - 877-330-6366

Kids Help Phone - 800-668-6868

Hope for Wellness Helpline - 855-242-3310

Black Youth Helpline - 833-294-8650

If you are in immediate distress, please call 911 or visit your local health centre.