Advocacy in Action
Legal Education & Empowerment for Two-Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender-Diverse Youth
Table of Contents
Overview
The laws governing gender-diverse youth in Alberta have rapidly changed. It can be difficult for youth and their supporters to navigate today’s complex and shifting legal environment.
PolicyWise for Children & Families and the Queer & Trans Health Collective are meeting this need with our Advocacy in Action project. Together, we are developing resources and opportunities for gender-diverse youth.
Our work will be youth-engaged and grounded in community guidance, lived experience and meaningful collaboration.
The Advocacy in Action project shares practical information to help gender diverse youth navigate everyday situations with legal implications. These can include things like:Going to school
- Going to school
- Finding employment
- Participating in sports or community programs
- Accessing healthcare
- Changing their name or gender marker
Standing Up to Discrimination Workshops
In September and October 2026, Advocacy in Action will host four workshops for Alberta-based Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth aged 14-24. Two workshops will be offered online and two will be held in-person.
The workshops will focus on practical strategies for addressing interpersonal and systemic discrimination towards gender-diverse people. Through the workshops, youth will learn how to:
- Recognize discrimination;
- Keep records of incidents of discrimination;
- Speak up in situations involving discrimination;
- Get support when experiencing discrimination;
- Use self-care strategies to support their well-being.
Youth Advocacy Forum
In Spring 2027, Advocacy in Action will host a Youth Advocacy Forum in Edmonton, Alberta, bringing together Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth; their caregivers and other supports; Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual community (2SLGBTQIA+) organizations; and legal service providers.
The forum will provide opportunities to build community, share knowledge, and explore legal issues affecting gender-diverse youth in Alberta. Through keynote speakers, panel discussions, co-design sessions, and youth-led conversations, participants will learn from one another, hear about available supports and services, and strengthen their understanding of legal rights and self-advocacy.
Participants will also have opportunities to connect with community organizations, explore self-advocacy tools, and help shape future resources and advocacy efforts. Together, they will identify practical ways to support safer, more inclusive communities for gender-diverse youth across Alberta.
Youth Self-Advocacy Toolkit
How youth advocate for themselves depends on the context. Youth may need to speak up in response to discrimination, teach service providers about their rights, ask for accommodations, or find ways to support their peers and community.
Advocacy in Action is developing a self-advocacy toolkit that brings together new and existing resources to help youth navigate a variety of situations, like work, school, housing, and community programs.
Youth will have an opportunity to explore the toolkit and provide feedback at the Youth Advocacy Forum. The full toolkit will be launched in Summer 2027.
Youth Leadership Workshop
In Fall 2027, Advocacy in Action will host a leadership workshop for Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth .
The leadership workshop will help gender-diverse youth develop the knowledge, tools, and confidence to lead advocacy initiatives, mobilize their peers, strengthen community connections, and amplify youth voices.
Youth-Community Advocacy Labs
In Fall 2027, Advocacy in Action will bring together Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth leaders and community allies to co-develop advocacy initiatives that turn ideas into action.
Together, participants will design initiatives that meet pressing needs, empower youth civic action, and advocate for systems change to support Two Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth in Alberta.
Advocacy in Action Youth Advisory Group
Advocacy in Action is guided by a Youth Advisory Group made up of five gender-diverse youth leaders from across Alberta. Their leadership helps ensure the project reflects the priorities, needs, and experiences of gender-diverse youth.
Members of the Advisory Group make sure project tools and activities are relevant, accessible, and youth-centred. They also share their insights into the legal issues gender-diverse youth face and identify gaps or emerging needs.
Project Team
Dr. Jennifer Medlock, PhD, Director of Research
Rachel Carr, MSc, Manager – Strategic Initiatives
Jonah Elke, MSc, Senior Associate, Research & Advocacy
Falynn Bilyk, MPH, Research & Policy Associate
Project Partners
We are proud to be collaborating on the Advocacy in Action project with the Queer & Trans Health Collective.
This project is funded by the Alberta Law Foundation and the Max Bell Foundation .
