Groups launch legal challenge against Alberta transgender legislation [Video]

A pair of LGBTQ2S+ advocate organizations say they’ve followed through with their plan to challenge Alberta’s three transgender bills in court, starting with one that bars doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16.

Bennett Jensen, legal director at Egale Canada, says the groups, which also include Skipping Stone and five Alberta families, are opposing Bill 26 first because parts of the legislation are already in effect.

Jensen says the groups submitted an originating action with Court of King’s Bench late Friday, but due to the late hour, it would not get processed until Monday.

The groups argue Bill 26 violates gender-diverse young people’s section 7 right to security of the person, their section 12 right to be free from cruel and unusual treatment and their section 15 right to equality.

A spokesperson for Alberta’s justice minister says in an email that …