Tegan and Sara decry Alberta government 'attack' on LGBTQ+ ...

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Calgary indie pop duo Tegan and Sara took aim at Alberta’s policies surrounding transgender youth as they accepted an award Sunday night to honour their advocacy work for the LGBTQ+ community.

Onstage at the Junos in Halifax to accept the Humanitarian Award for the efforts of their Tegan and Sara Foundation, which has a particular focus on advocating for LGBTQ girls and women, they said the recognition was meaningful but also a reflection of the issues their community is facing in the current political climate.

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“If the world were not so hostile to 2SLGBTQ+ people, we would see ourselves purely as musicians,” said Sara Quin.

“We are dedicated to confronting any form of discrimination that threatens the well-being of our community, threats like the Alberta government’s attempt to prevent trans youth from accessing vital care. These attacks are harmful because they are directed at kids who need our support the most.”

Earlier this year, the Alberta government said it would implement new policies regarding children and LGBTQ rights. These include bans on gender reassignment surgery for those aged under 17 and on hormone therapy for children aged 15 and under, as well as limits on sports participation for transgender athletes.

“The government is introducing these policies across several ministries to preserve the choices children and youth have before potentially making life-altering and often irreversible adult decisions,” said Sam Blackett, press secretary for Premier Danielle Smith, in a written statement issued to Postmedia.

Blackett also said the province was reaffirming its support for the LGBTQ+ community by providing health care access and supports for transgender adults.

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“Additionally, we’re developing a counselling pilot project to help youth identifying as transgender and their families work through often difficult and complex issues and discussions,” he said.

The concerns echo Smith’s own statement in a video posted to social media on Jan. 31, ahead of the official announcement.

“Prematurely encouraging or enabling children to alter their very biology or natural growth, no matter how well intentioned and sincere, poses a risk to that child’s future that I as premier am not comfortable with permitting in our province,” she said at the time.

Legal experts have said the new rules could run afoul of the Canadian Charter of Right and Freedoms, as a court had already ruled against similar legislation put in place by the province of Saskatchewan.

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