Transgender community gathers in remembrance and speaks out about Alberta legislation [Video]

Dillon Ford has never marked Transgender Day of Remembrance before.

But on Wednesday night, the 23-year-old transgender man said he felt it was important to go to an Edmonton community centre to remember the transgender people who have died around the world, and in Alberta, in recent years.

“It’s helping me see hope,” said Ford while at the memorial.

“I think now more than ever, I want to remember how important it is to learn about trans people, how people just want to be happy and live their lives how they want to.”

Ford said he began losing hope in October, when Alberta’s United Conservative Party government introduced three bills that would affect transgender people.

If enacted, the bills would restrict transgender athletes from competing in female amateur sports, prohibit doctors from treating those under 16 seeking gender-affirming surgeries and require children under 16 to have parental consent if they want to change their names or pronouns at school.