Alberta to require parental consent for name, pronoun changes at school

Premier Danielle Smith has announced a raft of changes affecting transgender Albertans, including requiring parental consent for students 15 and under who want to change their names or pronouns at school.

Premier Danielle Smith has announced a raft of changes affecting transgender Albertans, including requiring parental consent for students 15 and under who want to change their names or pronouns at school.

Smith says students 16 and 17 would not need consent, but their parents must be notified.

She announced the changes Wednesday in a video posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, and said they came after discussions with her United Conservative Party caucus.

Smith was slated to hold a news conference on the topic Thursday in Calgary.

In the video, Smith announced the transgender policies and guidelines ranging from restrictions on hormone therapy and surgery to participation in sport.

Smith said while her government wants transgender people to know they are supported, she can't countenance allowing youth to make life-altering changes until they are mature enough.

“It's to those children and teens that I want to say just how much we love you and support you in becoming the person you want to be,” Smith said in the seven-minute video.