Teenagers across Alberta staged a school walkout Wednesday morning to protest Premier Danielle Smith’s proposed gender identity policies. Last week, Smith announced a number of policy changes related to gender-diverse youth and sexual education. This includes the requirement for parental notification and consent if a child aged 15 or younger changes their name or pronouns at school. Puberty blockers and hormone therapies for gender affirmation will not be permitted for children aged 15 and under, but youth aged 16 or 17 will be permitted to start gender affirmation therapy “as long as they are deemed mature enough” and have parental, physician and psychologist approval.
The province-wide walkout was planned by a 16-year old Grade 10 student in Leduc. Aspen Cervo, says his 13-year old brother is transgender and the walkout was meant to show him and others they’re supported. Here in Lethbridge, students from Chinook High School and Winston Churchill High school also took part.