Statement from CUPE Alberta Women’s Committee
The CUPE Alberta Women’s Committee stands with trans people, especially children. This November 20th marks the 25th anniversary of Trans Day of Remembrance. The day was proclaimed in 1999 in the United States in memory of Rita Hester, a Boston trans woman who was senselessly murdered and continues to be denied justice.
The day has since grown into an international commemoration of 2 Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary and Gender Diverse lives lost due to discrimination and hate and a celebration of their comrades’ continued resilience and resistance in this time of increasing uncertainty and governmental imposition of discriminatory legislation.
Just last month, the UCP put forward three pieces of legislation targeting trans youth. This without any consultation with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community or their care providers and despite a deluge of research, statistics and lived experience of community members, medical professionals, school workers and families warning that the harm resulting from this action is certain, irreparable and potentially lethal.
The CUPE Alberta Women’s Committee calls on the provincial government to rescind Bills 26, 27 and 29 and immediately begin making reparations to the community that has already been so devastatingly harmed by the rise in discrimination and hate.
We further call on the government to work with the Alberta 2SLGBTQIA+ community and its allies to identify methods of support and education with a view towards eradicating the inequities faced by trans people when accessing publicly funded services such as health care and education.