Transgender rights advocates ask Poilievre to reject vote against gender-affirming care

Transgender rights advocates are calling on Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre to reject a pair of controversial policies passed at his party’s convention in Quebec City last week.

The policies aim to ban gender-affirming care for trans and gender-diverse youth and to prevent trans people from using bathrooms other than those belonging to the sex they were assigned at birth.

These policies are being called “appalling” by Fae Johnstone with the Society of Queer Momentum. She believes politicians should not dictate whether people receive legitimate medical care and says these policies will most likely spark more discrimination and harm against trans people and youth.

“Trans and gender diverse young people are more likely to struggle with mental health and have significantly higher rates of suicidality and attempt,” Johnstone said.

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She says Poilievre is free to reject the proposals since, as the party’s leader, he’s not bound to adopt them.

Daniel Béland, the head of Canadian Studies at McGill University, says it’s a political tightrope for the Conservative leader.

“He has shown to the social conservatives that yes, he listens to them, to their voice, but at the same time, is able to pick and choose the policies that he thinks will resonate with Canadians,” Béland said.

He says he thinks Poilievre’s popularity in his party gives him some wiggle room to not act on socially conservative issues and not face a revolt.

He expects the leader to punt responsibility to the provinces but also expects Liberals and New Democrats to use this against the Conservatives in the political arena.