LGBTQ2S+ & Conservatives

Paladin1 wrote:

Not to make an appeal to numbers but I have a handful of LGBTQ friends and peers. They're all "Anti Pride". The feedback from the LGBTQ community in some of the Positive Space classes I instruct say the same.

Blaine Higgs is recruiting thousands of right-wing Christians in the hopes of having enough support to win a New Brunswikc leadership vote triggered by weight PC MLAs, including six cabinet ministers, not supporting him on reducing protections for public school students in Policy 713. 

A Christian conservative group rallying support for New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs now has enough signatures to be a decisive factor in any leadership review vote.

It and another organization rallying support for the embattled Progressive Conservative leader have flexed their muscles in the last month, gathering enough names to swing the vote in his favour.

"A lot of times it's hundreds or even dozens of people that can make a difference in some of these elections," said Faytene Grasseschi, who runs the group 4 My Canada from Quispamsis, outside Saint John.

As of Wednesday she said she had collected almost 9,000 names from across Canada, including 2,000 from New Brunswick who could sign up as provincial PC members. "If it goes to a leadership review, I think it's buying that membership and making your voice heard," said Grasseschi. "This is just basic democracy, right?"

Another group, Right Now, has more than 1,200 signatures. Co-founder Alissa Golob estimates more than 90 per cent of them are from New Brunswickers who are eligible to become provincial party members. "We'll be ready if it does come to a leadership review or if it comes down to an election," said Golob, who describes her organization as non-religious.

Twenty-six PC riding association presidents have signed letters calling for a review, hoping to trigger a vote by members on whether to dump Higgs. New Brunswick's premier has lost or fired several cabinet ministers in recent months over his leadership style, and stance on issues like a gender policy in the province's schools. 

The next hurdle is a two-thirds vote by the party's governing body to schedule a convention. But if that happens, Higgs has a good chance of surviving thanks to Grasseschi and Golob. Just 2,732 PC members cast ballots in the third and final round of the party's 2016 leadership vote that Higgs won. His margin was 394 votes — far fewer than the number of names collected by 4 My Canada and Right Now. "The nation and our communities are shaped by those who show up in the process," Grasseschi said.

The two groups started mobilizing last month after Higgs faced a cabinet and caucus revolt in the legislature over changes to Policy 713. The original policy required school staff to respect the name and pronoun choices of students under 16 in the classroom, without notifying parents if that's what the child wanted.

Grasseschi is something of a celebrity in Christian conservative circles.  She first came to prominence as an organizer of mass prayer rallies called TheCry and founded 4 My Canada in 2006. In 2009 well-known Canadian televangelist David Mainse compared her to Old Testament figures Deborah and Esther, saying she had a "prophetic edge."

Journalist Marci McDonald, author of a 2010 book on the Christian conservative movement, called her "very compelling and charismatic" and "one of the leading figures in this country's emerging Christian right." McDonald said in an interview she believes Grasseschi and others are using the issue of LGBTQ rights in schools as "a new hub to get Christians, evangelical Christians, the religious right, involved in politics again, as a new rallying cry. "They haven't had a rallying issue since same-sex marriage that brought people out to the polls."

Right Now has existed since 2016 and focuses mainly on abortion.  Its online petition to support Higgs cites both Policy 713 and his refusal to fund abortions in Fredericton's Clinic 554. 

Golob said she believes most of the New Brunswickers who have signed are not PC members because many of them opposed some of his other policies, such as COVID-19 restrictions early in the pandemic.  But she said they form a base that can be deployed in any leadership review or election where Higgs's future is on the line.  "You can grow that exponentially as long as you have that solid foundation," she said. In a statement, Higgs said he has received support "from a wide cross section of individuals" who come from "different backgrounds, different cultures, and different religions." He said "despite their differences," they share his belief and support what he calls his balanced approach.

The strategy of the two groups is already bearing fruit. Roxana Kreklo, a Sussex parent of school-age children who works for Harvest Prison Ministries, said she joined the PC party two weeks ago expressly to support Higgs.

"I think it's important for all of us to get involved civically," she said. Kreklo moved to Canada as a child from Romania, shortly after the collapse of Communist rule there — one reason she said she's getting involved politically now. "I understand the value of … coming to a place that is a free and democratic society," she said. "So I want to do what I can to preserve that for my kids and for other kids as well."

McDonald said Grasseschi is part of a movement called the New Aposotolic Reformation that aims to put believers in government leadership positions so Canada can be "restored to be a Christian nation in time for the second coming of Christ," she said. Grasseschi would not confirm that. "You know, that would be a good question," she told CBC News. "I don't know. I hear these types of terms thrown around. People assume that I know. I actually have the same question myself." ...

Grasseschi herself has already waded directly into electoral politics. Not long after moving to New Brunswick, she ran unsuccessfully to be the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Saint John-Rothesay in the last federal election. She lost to former Saint John mayor Mel Norton, who went on to lose to Liberal incumbent Wayne Long.  She is not ruling out running federally again. She also said she has thought "vaguely, vaguely" about running provincially in Quispamsis whenever Higgs retires as MLA. "Right now I'm just trying to get my laundry done," she said. "Right now I'm just trying to get to tomorrow. But we all take things a day at a time in this world, right?"

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/christian-conservatives-sup...

The fight is on between Higgs and that part of his cabinet (six members) and two other MLAs, as well as 26 presidents and and four retired presidents of the 49 Conservative riding associatons over Higgs reduction of Policy 713 protections for LGBTQ2S public school students and his top down governing style. His "condescension and neglect toward the francophone and Indigenous communities" has also played a role in this rebellion. This once again illustrates the intersectionlity (an analytical framework for understanding how a person's various social and political identities combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege) of discrimnatory issues. The first step in the party process for removing Higgs from office has been taken -  putting the issue of Higgs leadership on the agenda for the next provincial council meeting. 

New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative party members who want Premier Blaine Higgs to step down as leader say they've taken the first step to oust him. Marc Savoie, president of the Progressive Conservative riding association in Moncton East, said the dissenting party members, which include 26 riding presidents, have the necessary paperwork to start the process to removeHiggs. The PC constitution says 50 members of the party — including at least 20 riding presidents — can trigger a leadership review. "The party doesn't have to issue an answer at the moment," Savoie said in an interview Friday. "All it's obligated to do is put this on the agenda for next provincial council meeting, which will happen at some point in September." 

A two-thirds majority of the council is needed to officially launch the review vote by PC party members. If the vote is defeated, Savoie said, Higgs is free to continue as leader of the New Brunswick Tories and premier of the province. If Higgs loses, however, he's welcome to contest again as party leader, Savoie added.

Dissenting party members have numerous problems with Higgs' leadership, Savoie said. These include Higgs’ changes to the policy on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools; his attempted cuts to the French immersion program for anglophone students; his decision to close six rural hospital emergency rooms; and his elimination of elected representatives from regional health authorities and the anglophone education system.

Higgs' condescension and neglect toward the francophone and Indigenous communities have led to drastically reduced participation in the party's northern riding associations, Savoie added. He said the premier has been claiming that dissenting presidents want to bring about a leadership review because of changes to the LGBTQ policy. The changes include making it no longer mandatory for teachers to use the preferred pronouns and names of transgender and nonbinary students under 16.

Savoie, however, says changes to Policy 713 are "the tip of the iceberg. That's just the straw that broke the camel's back," he said. "It's the prime example of how he is ruling the party in relation to the people. He listens to the people who say what he wants them to say. And that's how he bases his decisions."

Earlier this month, two ministers resigned from Higgs' cabinet citing his leadership style, leading to a shuffle during which the premier named five new people to portfolios. After the cabinet shuffle Tuesday, Higgs told reporters he needed to rebuild relationships with dissenting riding presidents. "I think we have some building to do," he said. "There's no question about that, and I need to play a key role in that — reaching out to the membership, to the executives throughout the province, and be able to sit down and have some very good discussions." 

Higgs' office did not immediately return a request for comment. Savoie said he is not sure about the premier's intentions on healing the divisions in the party.

"He's been saying that for years now. He's been saying that he wants to work together with people. He's done the exact opposite. He's alienated his caucus members, party members. He goes ahead and makes decisions without listening to his close allies, to his ministers, to his (members of legislative assembly)," he said. "He did nothing to nobody but himself. So for those reasons, we strongly believe that when he says those words, it is just to try to stop the discussion that we're having at the moment."

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-new-brunswick-progressive...

Paladin1 wrote:

What happened to all the Pride and LGBTQ stories in the media? We went from almost daily doom stories in June to nothing this month.

June is Pride month. That is why there has been a drop off in coverage in July. However CBC News Network covered a Pride parade in PEI today. A similar drop-off occurs after Black History month in February.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-trudeau-pride-ch...

Furthermore, a graduating Grade 12 student worries about what will happen to LGBTQ2S+ students still in school if Higgs' PC government changes are implemented this fall. 

Alex Harris, a Riverview student going into Grade 12, said hearing the advocate's words was a relief because they emphasized students' rights to privacy and equality — something he did not hear from the government.

"Kids deserve privacy and kids deserve rights the same as everybody else," Harris said. "Even if what a kid wants to do isn't quite what their parents want them to do."

However Harris said he's worried about what the school year will look like if the province does not undo its changes.

"My friends are going to get hurt. My friends' home lives are gonna get harder and my life is gonna get harder too. Because now the government has said that it is OK to disrespect people … like me," he said.

District education councils can pass their own policies based on Lamrock's recommendations, and Lamrock said those policies would supersede the provincial one. Higgs said Tuesday that's not correct. "That would be circumventing the laws," Higgs said.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/nb-government-needs-to-act-urgentl...

Fortunately, the Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and many organizations are looking into the situation, just like he province's child and youth advocate in New Brunswick did, concluding that forcing any non-binary and transgender students to use a name they don't identify with "is a violation of their protected rights under the Human Rights Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms."

Quote:

The Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth says her office will review a new policy around pronoun use in the province's schools.

"I am deeply troubled by the impact this policy will have on the rights of children in Saskatchewan," said Lisa Broda in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon.

Education Minister Dustin Duncan announced earlier in the day that going forward, schools must now seek the permission of parents or guardians before allowing students under the age of 16 to change what the province refers to as their "preferred" name and pronouns.

For students 16 and over, parent/guardian consent is not required.

Broda said her office found out about the policy, titled Use of Preferred First Name and Pronouns by Students, through the media and had not been advised of the changes.

"Any new policy, legislation, law, or practice that may impact children and their rights compels me, under my legislative authority, to review and advise on such matters," she said.

Duncan said earlier Tuesday that his department would work with the Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth if the office planned to look at the new policy. 
At a news conference Tuesday, Duncan said there will be provisions in place for children wanting to change their name and pronouns who believe they are at risk of harm if their parents find out. 

"My view is that the default position can't be 'how do we keep this from the kid's parents?' The default position needs to be, 'How do we provide that student with the support so that they are comfortable with their parents knowing a decision they want to make?'" he said. 

Duncan also announced that parents must be informed about the sexual health education curriculum offered in their children's schools and have the opportunity to opt out of their children receiving those lessons. Duncan said the changes were driven by parents and that some schools had already begun considering policies. "We certainly have heard from parents on this. Part of the changes today is to provide consistency across the school divisions," Duncan said. ...
Organizations began to weigh in on the changes within hours of the policy announcement. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) swiftly condemned the policy shift, saying it made it more dangerous to be a LGBTQ student in the province.  "The new policy violates the rights and dignity of 2SLGBTQIA+ young people and is not in the best interest of students," the CCLA said in a statement. "Shredding the rights of students is repulsive. Implementing policy that could result in increased harm to vulnerable youth is disgraceful." The organization said it is ready to take the legal measures necessary to protect the rights of students in Saskatchewan. 

The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation described the policy as dangerous and driven by political ideology, saying it was a "massive overreach," in a news release Tuesday. "[The government] states that they believe in safe and caring schools, and yet student safety and quality of education are being sacrificed to meet this government's political needs," said Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation president Samantha Becotte in the release. The organization is calling on the province to reverse the change and consult with experts in the education sector.

Lori Johb, president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, issued a simple statement on Tuesday.  "Outing children as part of a political gamble is violent and despicable," she said. 

Duncan dismissed concerns that the changes he announced Tuesday were similar to changes to a gender-identity policy in New Brunswick that made it mandatory to deny a request from a child under 16 to use a specific name or pronoun unless parents consent.

That policy change was found to violate the New Brunswick Human Rights Act, the Education Act and children's charter rights by the province's child and youth advocate last week.

6079_Smith_W wrote:

"Parental  choice" is a dogwhistle.

https://monitormag.ca/articles/parental-choice-is-a-dog-whistle-lets-rec...

The Conservatives not only adopted anti-trans policies at their convention on the weekend, they also proposed race-based hiring, thereby showing the intersectionality of their discriminatory practices. They also rejected the use of vaccine mandates despite pleas from Conservative doctors.

Conservative delegates voted Saturday to add some new social conservative policies to their policy playbook, including a proposal to limit access to transgender health care for minors and another to do away with vaccine mandates. Despite warnings that these policies could be weaponized by their political opponents to hurt their standing among more moderate voters, a strong majority of the delegates on hand voted for a motion that stated children should be prohibited from gender-related "life-altering medicinal or surgical interventions," and for another that said Canadians should have "bodily autonomy" when it comes to vaccines and other health treatments.

About 69 per cent of the delegates agreed that young people should be barred from gender-affirming care, which sometimes includes hormone-related treatments that delay puberty or promote the development of masculine or feminine sex characteristics.

Michelle Badalich, an Edmonton delegate, said dysphoria is a "mental health disorder" and it should be addressed with treatment not "irreversible procedures. Please protect our kids," she said to thunderous applause.

Liam O'Brien, a Newfoundland and Labrador delegate, noted that "Canada is watching" as Conservatives debate controversial policies like this one. "Canada is also watching our leader kick Justin Trudeau's ass," O'Brien said as he urged delegates to keep the focus on the high cost of living and "Liberal incompetence."

On another transgender-related policy, delegates voted by an overwhelming 87 per cent to support a plan to demand single-sex spaces that are only open to women, which the party now defines as a "female person" with the adoption of the policy. The policy is intended to keep transgender and other gender-diverse people out of women's prisons, shelters, locker rooms and washrooms. Badalich said it's "not extremist" to demand that what she calls "biological women" have a space to call their own. "Vote yes to protect your wives and daughters," said another delegate, a 15-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alta.

A dissenting delegate from Quebec who did not give her name said "the Liberals will love nothing more" than to see Conservatives pass policies like this one and use discriminatory rhetoric to describe sexual minorities. "Please, let's get the Liberals out. Let's get elected," she said.

The convention also adopted a proposal from the Alberta riding of Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner to impose stiffer penalties on sex offenders and pedophiles. "Children are little angels of the world," a delegate from that riding named Logan said during the debate. He said there are nefarious actors who are trying to "assault, sexualize and traffic our children," and a Poilievre-led government needs to crackdown on the practice. About 86 per cent of the delegates agreed there should be "stronger legislation" from a Poilievre-led government to try and curb these activities.

On the issue of vaccines, an Ontario delegate and medical doctor pleaded with Conservatives to reject mandates so to avoid repeat of what transpired during the COVID-19 health crisis. "Justin Trudeau's coercive, divisive and ineffective vaccine mandate is a violation of the human right to bodily autonomy. Stand up for freedom, stand up for common sense," said Dr. Matt Strauss, the former acting medical officer of health for Haldimand-Norfolk.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not bound to adopt any of the policies that were passed at this convention. Poilievre did not take questions from reporters after the votes.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/conservatives-approve-policies-to-...

Mobo2000 wrote:

"They say they want to protect children and get parents more involved when really they want is to out them, and have them brutalized, thrown out of the house and driven to suicide."

An alternative explanation for the Conservative's position on this issue is that they are being responsive to public opinion.   According to Angus Reid, the policy supported strongly by the progressive left and NDP/Liberal party has about 14% public support (less among parents who have children under 18).

And as the anti-trans movement grows, the anti-LGTQ2S+ hate crimes have begun. 

Calgary police are investigating three potential hate-motivated crimes that targeted members of the LGBT community over the long weekend.

"It is shocking to see anyone targeted for a crime because of a personal characteristic, but it is extremely disturbing to see the same community targeted three times in one weekend," Sgt. Arlene Padnivelan, with the Calgary police diversity resource team, said in an emailed release Tuesday.

"It is unacceptable that this is happening and we will absolutely investigate any time a crime is motivated by hate or bias."

On midday Friday, a man was assaulted and called homophobic slurs by a group of men near the intersection of 17th Avenue and 12th Street S.W., police said.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., a drag king was recording a video on the rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of Centre Street and Stephen Avenue S.W., when a man spat on the performance artist. Police are investigating and collecting security camera footage to help identify the man. 

And on Monday, a same-sex couple was walking near the intersection of Ninth Street and Memorial Drive N.W. when two men and two women on electric scooters approached them.

Police said it's believed the two men on scooters assaulted the couple because of their sexual orientation, using a belt, rocks and a recycling bin as weapons. 

Police searched the area but couldn't locate the group. The victims were treated for injuries that were non-life-threatening.

The two suspects in that assault are both described as being about 30-years-old, of average height and build, with trim black beards and short black hair. One was wearing black-framed glasses, a white polo shirt, dark pants, brown loafers and white socks. The other was wearing a grey polo shirt with a white collar and sleeves, grey pants and white runners.

A systemic problem

Irfan Chaudhry, director of MacEwan University's Office of Human Rights, Diversity and Equity, and a hate crime researcher, said it's important to look at these incidents with a broad lens to see the systemic issues at play, not just as one-offs. 

"It's another unfortunate example of what we're seeing in terms of anti-LGBTQ2S incidents and crimes," he said. 

• Airdrie hit by 3rd homophobic vandalism incident this summer

Chaudhry said the challenge with reporting incidents comes with "more subtle acts of hate" that perhaps might not meet the criminal threshold but still have a negative impact on victims.

"Unfortunately, our Criminal Code is very specific in terms of hate-crime legislation," he said. 

"People often feel like why even report it to police."

While it can be difficult to change laws, Chaudhry said, there is room for conversation about how existing laws can be supplemented. 

"I think there's ways to beef up language that we currently have," he said. 

We fully recognize that sometimes people do not want to involve the police or don't feel comfortable coming to us for help.- Sgt. Arlene Padnivelan

Hate-motivated crimes are crimes where the offender was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on one of nine personal characteristics of the victim, police said, like gender, race or religion. 

Police said they encourage anyone who has been targeted for ill treatment or a crime because of their identity to report it so the perpetrators can be held accountable.

The hate motivation is only considered once an offender is found guilty, where it can be considered an aggravating factor to add to the convicted person's sentence. 

Involving police in an incident can be a complicated decision, especially for members of marginalized groups. 

Police said if someone feels uncomfortable coming forward through traditional channels, they or someone they trust can reach out directly to the diversity resource team or hate crimes co-ordinator by calling 403-428-8399 to find a way to feel more comfortable filing a report. 

"We fully recognize that sometimes people do not want to involve the police or don't feel comfortable coming to us for help," Padnivelan said.

"We respect the wishes of those who are most affected by the incident and never force a victim to participate in a police investigation. However, if there is a way we can help make a person feel safe enough to come forward, we want to try do that."

Albertans can also document hate incidents through the province's online reporting tool, StopHateAB.ca.

Update Aug. 7, 2020: The two men accused in the incident at Ninth Street and Memorial Drive N.W. were identified after photos were released by police. CBC News is not naming the men because they have not been charged, but they say they and their families have received threats after being publicly identified elsewhere.

"Quite simply, stories have been circulated about us that are simply false," they said in a statement. "We fully intend to defend ourselves."

"We ask that the public remember the common wisdom that every story has two sides. We will provide ours in due course."

Calgary police removed the photos from their website after the men were identified. CBC News has also removed the photos from its site.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/homophobic-crimes-calgary-1.5674355

Protests and counter-protests are occurring today across Canada as the movement and the politicians pushing it in the various conservative parties try to take advantage of the situation. "Almost two-thirds of LGBTQ students don't feel safe at school, compared with 11 per cent of heterosexual students, and attempts to erase them from school curriculums are hateful." CBC News Network is reporting last night that a queer book in Calgary had its windows smashed in as anti-trans hate turns to violence.

Protests and counter-protests for and against Canada's trans and LGBTQ community are being planned across Canada on Wednesday. 

Posters created by a group called "1MillionMarch4Children" say rally participants are "standing together against gender ideology in schools." 

Sarah Worthman, an LGBTQ advocate who is helping organize at least 63 counter-protests across the country, said Canadians need to stand up for the community outside of Pride events. 

“Allyship is a verb,” she said, as she called on supporters to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ folks who have increasingly been the subject of hate and political debate by attending the No Space for Hate events.

“There’s this small but vocal minority of far-right individuals who constantly think they’re the majority, and that everyone shares their views,” Worthman said. 

She said she hopes the planned counter-protests can help show most Canadians are generally supportive, while countering hateful messaging they expect from protesters. 

“Doing these small things shows there is social pushback,” she said. “There is real danger in all of this.”

British Columbia's Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, called the anti-LGBTQ marches "hate-fuelled" and said while peaceful demonstration protects democracy and generates debate, the human rights of the trans and LGBTQ community "is not up for debate."

She said in a statement Tuesday that an inquiry by her office showed almost two-thirds of LGBTQ students don't feel safe at school, compared with 11 per cent of heterosexual students, and attempts to erase them from school curriculums are hateful.

Worthman said politicians, too, “should be louder” about their support for the LGBTQ community, and against individuals who seek to further marginalize members. 

Clint Johnston, the president of the BC Teachers' Federation, wrote a letter to B.C. Premier David Eby about the union's concerns about the planned protests. 

He said they're part of a co-ordinated attack against the trans and LGBTQ community. 

"These rallies are part of a movement across North America that uses 'parental consent' as a dog whistle for rising homophobia and transphobia. This movement is concerning and must be stopped," he said in the letter. 

Children in British Columbia's public schools are taught sexual orientation and gender identity programs. 

In response to Johnston's letter, the premier said school must be a place where every student feels secure and it's upsetting to see misinformation and disinformation used to attack vulnerable children and youth.

"Without hesitation, I denounce threats, hate and violence against 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. We are seeing a concerning rise in incidents where trans people are being targeted with threats and violence in person and online," Eby said in the statement.

"We cannot and must not stand idly by in the face of any kind of bullying. Any political leader who targets our most vulnerable, at-risk children and youth is no leader at all."

A statement from the City of Whitehorse said it is aware of a march planned for Sept. 20 in the Yukon city, and anti-LGBTQ messaging that targets community members will not be tolerated.

Bylaw officers in Whitehorse are also aware of the planned march as a counter-protest and the city said RCMP will be monitoring.

Govender said in a statement that those who want to "protect" children by removing school-based supports for gay, bisexual, trans and other students are misinformed. 

"As a parent, I plead with those who may think they are protecting their children: Erasing LGBTQ2SAI+ people from our curriculum will not change your child’s identity, but it will make schools, and the LGBTQ2SAI+ people in them, less safe," she said. 

Trans people have become the focus of a "surge of disinformation, conspiracy theories and hate," Govender said.

"This is not only about hate on the basis of gender identity; these rallies are an affront to human dignity, expression and rights for all of us," she said.

A letter from Govender to Eby, urged him to release details about the effectiveness of 12 recommendations Govender's office submitted to the province in March.

The recommendations flowed from a public inquiry that examined reports of hate in B.C. and provide a "road map of how to take tangible and transformative action against hate," Govender said.

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2023/09/20/news/counter-protests-canada...