We need to put a stop to Premier Smith’s dangerous plan for transgender youth in Alberta.
Join us in sending an email to the Premier and to Alberta’s Ministers of Children and Family Services, Arts, Culture and Status of Women, Education, and Health.
THIS IS THE EMAIL WE WILL SEND ON YOUR BEHALF, WHICH YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE IN THE BOX TO THE RIGHT.
Dear [MINISTER]
I am writing to you today to put a stop to Premier Smith’s dangerous and sweeping plan to take away and limit medical care, support, and education for young transgender and 2SLGBTQ+ Albertans.
Making any education about sexual orientation, gender identity, or human sexuality require parental notice and for parents to OPT-IN will undermine not just education that teaches human rights and that it’s OKAY to be gay, trans, or 2SLGBTQ+. It will also undermine all sex education - practical and essential knowledge that prevents childhood sexual abuse and which every kid has a right to learn about.
I want to believe that most parents are good parents who, of course, want to know what’s going on in their children’s lives and would learn and support their kid if they came out as 2SLGBTQ+.
But policies have to be made with the most vulnerable in mind, and take into account that some parents are homophobic, transphobic, and abusive.
Forcing teachers to out youth who are questioning, exploring, or transitioning in their gender identity to their parents creates an incredibly dangerous situation for vulnerable kids.
Let’s trust kids to know their parents and know if and when it’s safe to come out to them.
It’s well established that gender-affirming healthcare saves lives. There’s also no such thing as under 18 bottom surgery in Canada. Transgender people access care in a step by step way with doctors, counselling, and due diligence at every stage.
More youth will die by suicide if they are cut off from hormones or puberty blockers and prevented from living as the gender that fits them.
The Premier knows all this. She made an impassioned speech to defend Gay-Straight Alliances in schools in 2014 because she knew it would save lives. You need to remind her.
Talk to the Premier and demand that she puts a stop to her plan and listen to the 2SLGBTQ+ community, educators, and doctors.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your email]