April 30, 2024: Members of a group that advises Alberta Health Services on 2SLGBTQ+ health care were surprised by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s new policies about transgender youth, announced earlier this year.
On January 31, 2024, Premier Alberta Danielle Smith shared her plans in a video on social media and officially announced them at a news conference the next day. These plans focus on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
The documents show that the advisory council called the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) council, had concerns right after the announcement. One council member said in a February 2 email:
“This announcement is politically motivated and not based in fact or clinical guidelines. “I believe we must inform (as per our mandate) those in our sphere of influence, which includes the public and leaders within the organization, with the right information. It’s important to talk about “the damage this policy does to the health of 2SLGBTQ Albertans, especially those kids.”
The SOGIE council works with 2SLGBTQ+ patients, their families, and caregivers but needs to report to the government.
The proposed policies would stop certain surgeries for minors and limit puberty blockers and hormone therapies for those under 16 unless they have already started treatment. Teens aged 16 or 17 could start hormone therapies if they are considered mature enough and have the approval of their parents, a doctor, and a psychologist.
The government also said it’s trying to bring more specialists in transgender care to Alberta to help transgender adults get health care, according to Sam Blackett, a spokesperson for the premier.
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