Alberta Premier Danielle Smith betrays Albertan values, attacks freedom of trans youth and families

For Immediate Release

October 31st, 2024

Ottawa – Fae Johnstone, Executive Director of the Society of Queer Momentum, made the following statement following Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s introduction of anti-trans policies, with additional comments from Momentum's Alberta Organizer, Victoria Bucholtz

“Premier Smith has begun the legislative session with an all-out assault on the freedom of transgender youth and their parents. She is playing politics with vulnerable youth to pull attention away from her lack of solutions to the real problems facing Alberta, like the housing and affordability crises, a crumbling healthcare system and the abysmal state of Alberta’s public schools.”

“These anti-trans policies will force families of trans youth to flee the province in order to access medically necessary care and fuel harassment of transgender Albertans. Albertans don’t want their government interfering in the private medical decisions of parents and young people. They don’t want the state inspecting people’s genitals to determine what sports team they can play on. At their core, these policies are a betrayal of Albertan values of freedom, responsible government, and support for families.”

“While many Albertans struggle to make ends meet, put food on the table or get timely access to healthcare, their premier is playing politics with vulnerable young people to appease a small group of radicals with a stranglehold on power in the UCP. We urge Premier Smith to get back to work for Albertan families, reverse her anti-trans policies and focus on what matters – build an inclusive, prosperous, safe and free Alberta – for everyone.”

Victoria Bucholtz, Queer Momentum's Alberta Organizer, added that "These attacks represent a terrifying loss of rights and freedoms for the transgender, non-binary, Two Spirit, and gender diverse community in Alberta. They seek to establish the ability of the government to restrict the lives of our community and seriously question our safety in the future. Premier Smith should take her own advice and depoliticize trans lives by abandoning these policies and leaving trans healthcare to doctors."

“This is our moment to speak up and take action for transgender young people and their families. Together, we can make Premier Smith rescind these policies and get back to building a better Alberta - for everyone. We urge people from all walks of life who believe in freedom to send a letter urging Premier Smith to rescind her anti-trans policies: www.transactionalberta.ca and attend one of our upcoming Rallies to Stop the UCP in Calgary and Edmonton on November 2nd.

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