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As the Alberta Legislature begins the 2009-2010 session, the Queer Allied Network (QAN) is hereby making it known that the following areas need to be properly and respectfully dealt with for the betterment of all Albertans:
1. Repeal Bill 44 and introduce a new bill to revise the Alberta Human Rights Code.
After vigorous consultation with the government, it is clear that Bill 44 is simply unworkable, both for schools and for the community it was designed to protect. A fresh bill is necessary to bring the Human Rights Code up to an acceptable level of inclusion and to explicitly reflect the decision made by the Supreme Court of Canada on the Delwin Vriend case in 1995. This new bill should also include protection for Trans-identified citizens. In this process, the Government needs to properly consult with the LGBTQ community and ensure that its rights are being fully protected.
2. Reinstate Gender Reassignment Surgery as a provincially funded medical procedure.
Gender reassignment surgery is a medically necessary procedure for a highly screened and vetted group of people within Alberta. Gender Reassignment Surgery not only drastically increases the quality of life for Alberta?s Transsexual residents; it is a matter of life and death for these citizens. It is the duty of government to provide medically necessary procedures to its citizens.
3. Revise the Education Act in a fair and equitable way.
The revision needs to balance the needs of parents, teachers, and especially students. Students should be given every opportunity to learn about the society they are living in and all of its members. QAN hopes that the revised Education Act will be forward thinking and free of prejudice.
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