Alberta’s transgender laws face legal battle

Advocates are fighting Alberta's Bill 26, an amendment that will change access to gender therapies for young children.

An advocacy group, along with five LGBTQ2S+ youth and their families are in court Tuesday over what they say is Alberta’s anti-trans legislation.

Egale Canada and Skipping Stone are requesting for an injunction to block to the denial of health care for gender diverse youth while Alberta’s Bill 26 faces a constitutional test.

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They also want a ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those with gender dysphoria lifted.

“Anytime a government is intervening in the relationship between a doctor and a patient, I think we all should be concerned,” Bennett Jensen, director of legal at Egale Canada, said.

“I think it’s important that the medical profession is able to use it’s best judgement in terms of providing individualized care to patients.”

The groups say the medical treatments are generally considered safe, but the United Conservative Party government “has deliberately disregarded expert guidance and evidence.”

“Everyone deserves access to health care and the support of medical professionals without interference from the government,” the group said in a statement.

It says it will “use every tool” to stand up for the rights of LGBTQ2S+ youth.