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A rally in support of transgender youth was held at Lethbridge City Hall on Saturday, February 3, 2024. (Photo: LNN)

Rally in support of trans youth held at Lethbridge City Hall

Feb 3, 2024 | 4:48 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A rally in support of transgender youth was held in the city on Saturday, February 3, 2024.

Beginning around 2:00 p.m., dozens of supporters made their way to Lethbridge City Hall for the rally. The rally was held as a response to the province’s new policies on sexuality and gender.

Premier Danielle Smith announced Wednesday, January 31 on X that policy changes would be brought to legislature. Some of those include:

  • For minors 17 and under, top and bottom gender reassignment surgeries are not permitted.
  • For children 15 and under, puberty blockers and hormone therapy for the purpose of gender reassignment or affirmation is not permitted, except for those who have already started those treatments.
  • Classroom instruction on gender, sexuality and sexual orientation now requires parental notification and opt-in.
  • Third-party resource materials on gender, sexuality and sexual orientation in K-12 schools need to be pre-approved by the ministry to make sure they are age-appropriate.

Among the speakers at the rally on Saturday was Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips, who voiced her opposition to the new policies.

Phillips said in addition to the policies being harmful, Smith needs to focus on priorities that actually matter to Albertans.

She elaborated, “Instead of actually funding classrooms and funding our education system, the UCP has decided to distract from their government record with these polices that are very harmful to trans youth.”

She added, “These policies go way beyond what other conservative governments do in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. The parents of trans youth that I’ve talked to have said that those are very very harmful policies and they should be stopped.”

The rally also featured speeches, chants, an open microphone, and a singing performance by the Lethbridge Raging Grannies.

Smith said the gender policy changes she proposed will arrive at the provincial legislature in the fall.

READ MORE: Alberta Premier Smith says new transgender youth policy arriving this fall, critics call it damaging

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