Human Rights... Trans Kids Notwithstanding ft. Mel Woods (Podcast)

This week on The North State, I sat down with Mel Woods, senior editor at Xtra Magazine, to talk about the Alberta government's latest attacks on trans kids. RSS feed here. Apple Podcasts link here

The North State 2025 Q&A

In December, The North State will have a Q&A featuring questions from you! Eric Wickham, Ontario reporter for PressProgress and podcast producer extraordinaire will join to pose the questions to me. I won't see any of them! If you have a question you want to hear answered, submit them below before December 12th. Or click the link here.

Description

In a move that was in the works for month, the UCP government in Alberta has invoked the notwithstanding clause to shield three bills from court challenges. These bills specifically target trans kids, requiring birth gender to enter sports after 12 years old, preventing them from using differing pronouns at school without parental permission and bans on medical treatment under 16 years of age. With such unprecedented use of the clause, it's important to have a discussion on the very real implications for trans people, kids and wider society. Mel Woods, senior editor at Xtra Magazine joins the show to discuss the approach by the government, the effect on trans kids and their article calling out premier Danielle Smith for dishonest justifications.

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Sources and Further Reading

‘Difficult few days’: Alberta’s UCP government criticized for repeated use of notwithstanding clause - CTV News

Danielle Smith's notwithstanding clause triple play on trans youth rights - CBC News

The lies Danielle Smith is telling to overturn trans kids’ rights - Xtra Magazine

Alberta Forcing Teachers Back To Work Is A Historic Loss - The Maple

Let’s transvestigate Godzilla - Xtra Magazine