Alberta’s new policies are not only anti-trans, they are anti-evidence

• Like other experts, we worried these policies would mimic the parental rights legislation recently introduced in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick.
• Smith has unveiled a suite of policies that directly attack trans and gender-diverse children and youth in Alberta.
• As we explain below, these policies are at odds with research about gender-affirming care, curriculum and sports.

Evidence on trans-affirming care

• Like all medicines, side effects are a risk but researchers caution against fear-mongering in response to gender-affirming care.
• The evidence about trans-affirming health care for youth is clear — it saves lives.
• Rather than restrict life-saving medical care, experts in fertility medicine call for increased accessibility for trans people to fertility services.

Sex education evidence

• Classroom instruction on gender, sexuality and sexual orientation also now requires parental notification and opt-in.
• Finally, third-party resource materials on gender, sexuality and sexual orientation in schools need to be pre-approved by the ministry to make sure they’re “age-appropriate.” Education experts agree that what is needed to protect youth — including cisgender and heterosexual kids — from potential abuse is robust and consent-based sexual health education.
• Youth have the right to knowledge and skills about their bodies, consent, safe/unsafe touch and healthy relationships.

Risk of parental, peer rejection

• This process essentially requires schools to “out” youth to their parents, who may reject their children.
• Smith incorrectly suggests that parental rejection of 2SLGBTQIA+ kids is rare.
• For those who experience family rejection, the rates of suicide are incredibly high.

Trans athletes evidence

• Smith’s policy will also ban trans girls and women athletes from participating in competitive women’s sports.
• Some scientists maintain that trans women and girls have no “biological advantage” over cisgender girls and women.
• A book on the topic that reviewed evidence on testosterone determined there is no direct relation between the hormone and athletic performance.

What’s the truth?

• In contrast, trans youth who are affirmed in schools, health care and in sports have better self-confidence and relationships with their parents.
• Smith has incorrectly warned there are risks associated with affirmation and inclusion in schools for trans kids.
• It includes more information on clinical guidelines for the prescription of puberty blockers for the purposes of gender-affirming care.

Corinne L. Mason receives funding from SSHRC. Leah Hamilton receives funding from SSHRC.