Junos 2024: Tegan and Sarah honored with Humanitarian Award

Calgary singer-songwriters Tegan and Sarah have been honored at this year's Juno Awards for their efforts to support 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

The pair were presented with the 2024 Humanitarian Award for their work through the Tegan and Sarah Foundation in Halifax on Sunday night.

In their acceptance speech, they called it “discrimination that threatens the well-being of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.”

They specifically targeted the Alberta government.

“Threats like the Alberta government's attempts to prevent trans youth from accessing vital care,” Sarah said.

In late January, Prime Minister Danielle Smith announced her government would back legislation that would ban puberty blockers and hormone therapy for children 15 and younger, except those who have started the treatment.

According to Smith, 16- and 17-year-olds can start hormone treatment if they are considered mature enough and have permission from their parents, doctor and psychologist.

The proposed law also prohibits upper and lower surgery on minors under the age of 17.

Halifax-born trans actor and producer Elliott Page presented the award to Tegan and Sarah Quinn.

“The Tegan and Sara Foundation has one simple mandate – to provide safety and community for 2SLGBTQ+ people,” said Page, who transitioned in 2020.

“Tegan and Sarah have proven time and time again their commitment to ensuring that 2SLGBTQ+ people live happy, healthy, and most importantly, long lives.”

The sisters took time to thank all the organizations they worked with in Canada.

“Thank you for being in our community and standing up for our community. To the many who came before us and fought before us, we share this honor with you.”

Backstage, Tegan told reporters that governments should focus on other issues, such as climate change, the fentanyl crisis and affordable housing.

Alberta's trans youth bill is expected in the fall.

The Prime Minister's Office said the proposed changes are aimed at supporting the transgender community.

Sam Blackett, a spokesman for Prime Minister Smith, said in a statement: “The government is introducing this policy across several ministries to ensure that children and young people have choices before adults make life-changing and often irreversible decisions.” created by a pop duo.

“To reaffirm our support for the transgender community, we are also providing additional support to help transgender adults get the health care they need, such as bringing medical professionals who specialize in transgender care to Alberta.”

The legislation is also expected to create a database of doctors for transgender Albertans and launch a counseling pilot project to help transgender youth and their families.

(With files from CTV Atlantic and Canadian Press)