Alberta will reinstate funding for gender reassignment surgeries June 15, more than two years after delisting the operation as a cost saving measure.
Health Minister Fred Horne says the policy change will mean up to 25 people per year can have the surgery for a total annual cost of about $1 million.
Horne said the government is changing the policy because it is the right thing to do. LGBT rights advocates agree.
“This is about the government doing something because they know it’s the right thing to do and that is a huge step forward,” says Kristopher Wells, a researcher at the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the University of Alberta.
“This isn’t about being forced to do something,” he adds, “but the Alberta government doing something because they know it’s the right thing to do. And that is a huge step forward, not only building a relationship with the LGBT community, but showing to the rest of the world that Alberta values human rights and will do everything in its power to protect and defend them…I think historic.”
The government cut funding for the operations in April 2009 when about 600 people were on a waiting list. Those in the community say that decision caused a lot of stress and trauma for people in all stages of the transition process.
“It’s been a very long and tense three years – a little over three years – for people,” says Jan Buterman, who’s partway through the process. “We’ve seen a lot of pain in the community over this, and to see it come to a resolution is absolutely wonderful.”
Wells agrees. “I know people who have left the province in desperation – in despair.”
“For many, this surgery is their only hope forward in their lives, so this will be a hugely important announcement. It’s going to give these people hope.”
He credits Premier Alison Redford for the government’s change of heart, but notes the province faces numerous human rights complaints over the 2009 cuts.
“We have sent many items of correspondence to government on this,” says Buterman.
“First and foremost, this is a medically-recommended procedure for a medically-recognized condition. I would like to think that the people that have the medical degrees and are charged with caring and managing that particular issue are respected to the point that they can actually have their patients undertake the treatment that they’ve recommended.”
Wells reiterates this decision is historic. Buterman’s initial reaction was equally as positive: “Delighted. Pleased. Every happy word you can come up with.”
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