EDMONTON — Every year, November 20 is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a day to mourn, remember and honour those who have lost their lives due to transphobia and anti-transgender violence.
“Today is a day to stop and reflect, and to honour the memories of those we have lost. But it is also a day to commit to fighting to build a world free of hate, bigotry and transphobia,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “Which is why we are reiterating our call for the provincial government to pull their harmful, anti-trans legislation from the Order Paper.”
Earlier this month, Premier Smith’s government tabled new legislation that includes major new restrictions on access to gender-affirming health care. If passed, this legislation will infringe on the rights of transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit and gender diverse Albertans to access the health care services they need, when they need them.
“Access to health care is a human right. Access to gender-affirming care saves lives. Yet the government continues to push forward their regressive legislation that is clearly discriminatory,” said Gallaway. "This is a shameful, divisive political attack on trans and gender diverse Albertans. Enacting these new barriers will only serve to put the health and safety of vulnerable young people further at risk."
Gender-affirming health care is already sorely lacking in Alberta, and the proposed legislation will only compound the issue by dictating what health care services Albertans can and cannot access. It is an appalling abuse of government power and opens an alarming door to further restrictions on our access to other care services.
"Health care decisions are between patients and their doctors, whether it be when seeking gender affirming care or any other health care services. The Premier reaching in to single-handedly change health policy like this sets a dangerous new precedent which should be of deep concern to everyone in Alberta. These bills should be pulled immediately, and never become provincial legislation” concluded Gallaway.
Friends of Medicare encourages Albertans to attend Transgender Day of Remembrance events occurring in cities across the province this week, and to continue to speak out in opposition to new legislative barriers to gender-affirming health care.
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