Abstract Book of the 4th International Conference on LGBT Studies
Year: 2025
[PDF]
One Step Forward, Two Steps Backwards; A Political Queer, Non-Binary and Trans Portrait of the 2025 Canadian Landscape
Prof. Dr. Sylvie Berthelot-Dilk
ABSTRACT:
Canada, being United States neighbour, is being fully tainted by Trump’s executive orders and policies against queer, non-binary and trans rights, which are being reshaped by his rhetoric. Misinformation and disinformation is fueling the narratives of the public, prompting some Ministers to make regressive decisions. For example, Saskatchewan’s school system requires parental consent for children under 16 for use of a different name or pronoun at school. In Alberta, Bills 26, 27 and 29 respectively ban gender-affirming healthcare for youth under 16, require parent permission to get access to school curriculum for sex education (therefore knowledge about consent, gender identity, and sexual orientation) and ban transgender athletes from participating in female sports. Depending on who is holding the reigns of political power; queer, non-binary and trans lives matter more or less. The 2025 elections have shown that Canadians have put their faith almost equally in the Conservatives and the Liberals. This is demonstrating to queer, non-binary and trans people that public sentiment is learning towards conservatives’ ideas pertaining to the gender binary. Therefore, transphobic sentiments continue to rise, threatening lives and rights. Considering that human rights are getting dismissed, Canadians need to understand what is happening around them and in their own country by getting informed and educated to advocate for queer, non-binary and trans communities.
Keywords: queer, non-binary and trans communities; Canadian landscape