Gender is a Spectrum

I have been reminded by a dear friend for whom I have tremendous respect that, as a cis friend, it is my duty and honour to support the trans community. As the Critic for Women and Gender with the Green Party of Canada, and now the Green candidate in Richmond Hill South, it is also my responsibility to lend my voice to support and amplify those in a community that are being violently and unnecessarily attacked. While I have argued loudly and repeatedly to individuals and at other forums, I have not yet written on the horrific and dangerous situation that is developing both here and south of the border, and it is certainly time I did so.

It began with Trump's inauguration and the subsequent executive orders he signed, declaring that “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. These are sexes that are not changeable, and they are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.” Then, Poilevre declared days later in an interview that he is only aware of two genders and smugly challenged the interviewer to name some others and that he's "welcome to come up with another list." He then declared the subject unimportant, saying that, "my priority is to give people back control of their lives."

I was alarmed, and frankly horrified, by the hypocrisy of that statement. How do you give people back control of their lives by denying their fundamental right to their own identity?

I am a cis woman. I am also extremely fortunate because no one has ever questioned whether or not I am a woman. I have never had to worry about using a public restroom or a changeroom. I have never had someone look at me and say, "Well, you say you're a woman, but you're not really a woman." I have never gone through a phase where I looked in the mirror and questioned my own identity. I have never had the feeling that my own skin is like a costume. I have never had to have the difficult discussions with my loved ones, wondering if they'll still love me after I reveal the most vulnerable parts of myself. And, I have never been so troubled by whether the world can accept who I am that I have considered that it might just be easier if I were no longer alive.

My heart goes out to those who have gone through any or all of that. It is not our role to make things even more difficult for them, it is our place to support them through one of the most challenging periods in their lives. What right does anyone have to impose their ideas and their beliefs on someone else? Gender is a very personal matter regarding how an individual identifies themselves, not how anyone else identifies them. What is the privilege we think we have that allows us to inflict our viewpoints on others?

And now, leaders of political parties that claim to prioritize freedom are taking away an individual's freedom to express themselves. They're forcing people into specific pigeon holes and not allowing them the freedom to live their lives the way they choose. The ramifications with respect to health, safety, human rights, justice, etc. are endless. How can they lead a country when they don't even recognize and appreciate the individuals and communities that make up an essential part of that country for who they are? How is this type of erasure acceptable and even supported? Many may consider gender to be a wedge issue, but for just as many, this is their identity, their lives. What right do we have to say that their lives aren't a priority?

My gender platform, called Advocating for Women and Gender Equity, includes a section on gender inclusivity in schools. I will promote the integration of comprehensive gender education in schools and ensure access to resources and support services for students exploring or affirming their gender identity. I will also advocate for policies that protect and uplift transgender and non-binary individuals, ensuring equitable access to healthcare, social services, and legal protections. Whenever I can, I will lend my voice to support and amplify the trans community.