When Members of the Legislative Assembly return to session on Monday, October 26, 2009, members of the Trans Equality Society of Alberta (TESA) and other transgender community supporters will be delivering letters to the MLAs requesting that the proposed Minister's Advisory Committee on Health be allowed to review the cut of health care funding for Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) made in the April 2009 budget.

Several community members from throughout Alberta will be in attendance in the public galleries in protest of the funding elimination, a decision made without consulting medical professionals or patients and families impacted by this decision.

"The Minister's Advisory Committee on Health was formed to review possible health care cuts. I'm confident that all Albertans would want to have a careful and thorough study done of any cut under consideration or review," says event organizer Mercedes Allen. "We think it only fair that GRS be given the same kind of detailed review."

Community advocates will be speaking at a gathering in advance of entering the Legislature to deliver the letters. The gathering is slated to begin at 10:30 near the Legislature steps.

The Trans Equality Society of Alberta was formed in 2009 in response to several issues that the transgender community faces, including the GRS funding cut.