Pride groups protest as Alberta holds meeting on proposed gender policies

Protestors gathered outside the provincial government offices at the McDougall Centre in Calgary Friday to voice their concerns with a private meeting held by Premier Danielle Smith that discussed proposed gender identity policies.

According to Tanya Fir, Alberta's minister of arts, culture and status of women, the meeting wasn't "secretive" and the names of participants were withheld for their safety and privacy.

"Unfortunately, with some of the previous roundtables I've had, participants were publicly doxxed and there were threats of violence to them and their loved ones. So first and foremost is the safety and privacy of the participants," Fir told reporters at a media conference.

"What I can tell you though, is there were some trans folks in attendance. There was the parent of a trans minor in attendance. There were some private organizations and community groups in attendance. It was a wide range of community groups, organizations and individuals."

While Fir didn't reveal specific details about the meeting, she acknowledged the importance of continuous engagement and consultations with members of the community.

"One of the common themes in the room was … so many people feel the same way on things and want to work together and understand each other's perspectives," she said.

"And it's sometimes unfortunate that the extreme voices on either side get most of the attention. I think a lot of folks have more in common than [what] divides us."

Smith revealed earlier this year the proposed policies will address gender identity, health care, participation in sports, and youth gender-affirming surgeries, something that has Pride groups and advocates worried about what's coming next. 

Victoria Bucholtz, a community organizer working with Queer Citizens United YYC who attended the protest outside the McDougall Centre, believes the voices of many important stakeholders are being overlooked.

"The province has decided to hold vital meetings about the future of trans health care in this province and is handpicking who's allowed to be in there, which means most of the people who deal with the trans community, trans health-care professionals, trans community providers, no Pride organizations are being allowed in that meeting," she said.

"We're really upset about this because we don't feel like we're being heard. And they're holding these very secretive meetings to then later say, well, we've discussed with the community. But we're here to say we do not feel heard. You are not talking to us."

Bucholtz wants a "public and open discussion" that allows members of the trans community, doctors, and patients to be a part of the conversation.

According to the community organizer, after the policies were announced in January many members of the trans community expressed their concerns, indicating that they may choose to leave the province.

"There is fear, there is outrage, there are people making escape plans," Bucholtz said.