LGBTQ+ groups pushing for speedy court process, halt to Alberta transgender bill

L-G-B-T-Q advocate organizations say they're working as quickly as possible to ask a court to stop the government from bringing into force an Alberta law they say will cause immediate harm.

The law will ban doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16. Bennett Jensen of Egale (EE'-gal) Canada, says along with Skipping Stone and five Alberta families, they will call for an injunction to protect young people's access to health care while the courts decide whether the law is constitutional. In documents filed with the Court of King's Bench, they cite five transgender youth who will face irreversible physical development if their to access puberty blockers is delayed.

They say none of the children affected will be able to access gender-affirming ``top surgery'' until they are 18 years-old. Premier Danielle Smith has said her government is protecting children from making ``permanent and irreversible'' decisions while preserving their right to make decisions as adults.