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Teens stage walkout over Alberta’s gender identity policies

Click to play video: 'Edmonton students stage walkout over Alberta’s gender identity policies'
Edmonton students stage walkout over Alberta’s gender identity policies
Students at high schools in Edmonton and Calgary walked out out of class on Wednesday in protest of the UCP's proposed parental rights roles that would affect queer and transgender kids when it comes to pronouns and medical changes to their bodies. Morgan Black reports. – Feb 7, 2024

Sixteen-year-old Aspen Cervo says he began thinking about a student walkout over the Alberta government’s planned policies around transgender youth right after Premier Danielle Smith announced them last week.

The Grade 10 student at Leduc Composite High School said earlier this week that his 13-year-old brother is transgender and that Wednesday’s walkout was meant to show him and others they’re supported.

“I’m lucky to grow up in a household where it’s safe to be whoever I want to be, but not all kids are lucky like that,” Cervo told The Canadian Press in an interview, adding he knows some others who aren’t as fortunate.

“Some get rejected or kicked out, and it really hurts you when your own parents basically tell you you’re not their kid anymore.”

Click to play video: 'Health Matters: Doctors criticize Alberta school policy targeting transgender youth'
Health Matters: Doctors criticize Alberta school policy targeting transgender youth

Smith said the fall sitting of the legislature would bring new rules, including restrictions on youth changing their names or pronouns at school, as well as on hormone treatment and surgery for gender affirmation.

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She said the goal of the policies is to ensure children are “fully informed” about the decisions they are making because they might regret them later in life.

The policies spurred a week of protest — both at the grassroots level and from groups like the Alberta Medical Association.

Students at high schools in Edmonton and Calgary also walked out Wednesday.

Youth walkout at Victoria school in Edmonton, Feb. 7, 2024. Global News

In Calgary, several dozen students from Western Canada High School carried signs with messages such as “Our Outrage Does Not Fit on a Poster” and “Protect Trans Black Female Disabled Immigrant Queer Indigenous Refugee Youth.”

Yomade Akapo, 16, said Smith’s government is “taking away rights from people who haven’t done anything wrong.

“It’s just a violation of human rights. It’s absolutely disgusting that that’s something she could to do to thousands of trans kids. I don’t think she understands how she’s affecting these kids, how she’s affecting their mental health.”

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Click to play video: 'Protests against Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s sweeping new transgender policy in Calgary, Edmonton'
Protests against Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s sweeping new transgender policy in Calgary, Edmonton

Fletcher Morrison, a transgender boy in Grade 11, said it’s important that his and others’ rights are respected at their schools.

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“I just want everyone to feel safe in school,” said the 16-year-old who transitioned three years ago with the support of his friends and family.

Morrison said he’s been seeing a lot more anti-transgender arguments in the past week.

“I can see it getting worse,” he said. “I just am worried for the safety of youth.”

Youth walkout at McNally school in Edmonton, Feb. 7, 2024. Global News

A few people stopped on the street in front of the high school to support the students.

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Kathryn Smith, a non-binary trans and queer adult, works with a lot of transgender youth.

“I wanted to come out and show the kids there are adults who support and love them,” Smith said.

“It’s very hard to see what’s happening.”

Click to play video: 'Alberta students gather to protest province’s proposed LGBTQ2 policies'
Alberta students gather to protest province’s proposed LGBTQ2 policies

Back in Leduc, Cervo said he used to be transgender but now considers himself gender-fluid. He said he mostly goes by “he,” but it sometimes changes.

When asked whether his fluidity could support arguments that youth who receive gender-affirming care could later change their minds, Cervo said that no one in Alberta is getting genital reconstruction surgery before 18 because it’s such a big change.

Other types of gender-affirming care, such as hormone therapy that his brother has been waiting for to change his voice, are decisions that Cervo felt his brother and others his age are old enough to make for themselves.

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“He’s been waiting for gender-affirming care for two years now and these policies are going to have to make him wait until he’s at least 16,” Cervo said.

“He’s been waiting for so long and now he’s going to have to wait longer.”

Click to play video: 'The West Block: Feb. 4, 2024 | Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defends new transgender policies, federal minister reacts'
The West Block: Feb. 4, 2024 | Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defends new transgender policies, federal minister reacts

Smith said gender affirmation surgery would be banned for those 17 and under. And there would be no puberty blockers or hormone therapies for the purpose of gender affirmation for anyone 15 and under, unless they’ve already begun such treatments.

Parental consent would be required for students 15 and under who want to change their names or pronouns at school. Students 16 and 17 would not need consent, but their parents would have to be notified.

Smith, in defending her proposals during a trip to Ottawa on Monday, said there is no “single voice” that can speak on behalf of the entire transgender community. She said she has spoken to some transgender people who expressed concerns about the ability of children to transition at a young age.

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“We had to have a conversation about what is the appropriate ages to be able to make those life-altering decisions.”

Click to play video: '‘Deeply troubling’: Alberta’s new gender identity policy concerns transgender community'
‘Deeply troubling’: Alberta’s new gender identity policy concerns transgender community

In a virtual media availability Wednesday afternoon, Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said he wasn’t sure how many Alberta youth participated in walkouts Wednesday but said having conversations is important.

“I understand, of course, that there’s a diverse range of opinions on this topic, and I think we’re seeing that today at some of our schools.”

He said the government’s goal is to strike a balance between supporting families and supporting a child to become who they’re meant to be.

Nicolaides said mandatory parental notification would not apply for private conversations students have in clubs like gay-straight alliances.

He said over the next few months, the government will consult more on the implementation of the UCP policies.

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“We’re committed to engaging with our partners,” Nicolaides added. “I know that we are in other ministries – to ensure we implement these policies as effectively as possible.”

He said that over the weekend, he was part of the ministers’ youth council meeting where these topics were discussed, and on Monday, there was a town hall with partners in the education field, including the Alberta Teachers’ Association, school boards and other organizations.

Click to play video: 'Albertans rally in support of trans rights at the legislature Sunday'
Albertans rally in support of trans rights at the legislature Sunday

With files from Global News

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