Category: Trans Rights

  • Dare to dream

    Dare to dream

    The makeup of trans and non-binary people is rapidly changing. In 2019, the median income of trans and non-binary Ontarians was approximately $30,000. While that’s still significantly short of the $50,000 that the median over 16 made in the province, it is double the 2009 figure of $15,000. We are living in a special moment;…

  • Safe(r) cities for trans folks

    Safe(r) cities for trans folks

    On September 22nd, I’ll be participating in a panel called Safe(r) cities for trans folks. From the description: Trans, gender diverse and 2SLGBTQ+ communities are subjected to experience significant violence in Ottawa and across Canada. Despite progress on 2SLGBTQ+ rights, the everyday realities of many in our communities are largely unchanged. What role can our…

  • Some good news

    Some good news

    Trans and non-binary people are the latest targets for those struggling with the visibility of the world’s beautiful diversity. Seeking a return to the homogeneity that only lived in the precipices of their ignorance, they’ve singled out gender diverse individuals as the wedge issue that will bring them back. I’ve been documenting transphobia for a…

  • A wave of anti-trans orgs

    A wave of anti-trans orgs

    Since 2019, organizations devoted to opposing rights for trans people have emerged across the world sharing these characteristics: Their name includes the words ‘female’, ‘women’, ‘gender’, ‘sex’ or ‘gay’ …but they disregard all issues faced by these groups …their messaging is instead entirely devoted to curtailing the acceptance of trans and non-binary people …they offer…

  • The Iceberg

    The Iceberg

    Once upon a time, I wrote about how I had habituated to the tiny decisions I made throughout the day as a gender non-conforming person to ensure my safety. I labeled what I endured as casual violence. Later on, I described how institutions like the Vancouver Public Library platforming anti-trans rhetoric contributed to making things…

  • Trans rights posters vandalized

    Trans rights posters vandalized

    A few weeks ago anti-trans messages were put up around downtown. In response, local queer activists and the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women put up posters affirming that trans rights are indeed human rights. These were repeatedly vandalized by residents of Ottawa over a number of days. I thought I’d do a gallery…

  • The anti-trans unicorn

    The anti-trans unicorn

    There’s a small group of people live off of harming trans people. It can be lucrative. Jordan Peterson was making at least $55,000 a month for writing things like “[non-binary pronouns] are at the vanguard of a post-modern, radical leftist ideology that I detest, and which is, in my professional opinion, frighteningly similar to the…

  • Lessons in advocacy

    Lessons in advocacy

    I’ve been doing queer & trans advocacy for over ten years. As I slowly make my exit from this part of my life, I thought I’d share some observations. Mostly dispelling misconceptions I inherited from media.

  • Conservatives in Parliament: A Case Study with Bill C-6

    Conservatives in Parliament: A Case Study with Bill C-6

    Passing through the federal legislature is Bill C-6, a law to make involuntary conversion therapy illegal. It addresses a real need: 8% of trans and non-binary youth 14-24 have undergone conversion therapy. The bill passed second reading and is now with the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in the House of Commons. Of…

  • Map of transphobic harassment in Ottawa-Gatineau

    Map of transphobic harassment in Ottawa-Gatineau

    There’s now a crowd-sourced map that documents transphobic harassment encountered in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. You can access the map through this link. If you’d like to share your experiences of transphobia for this, please reach out to me. The more the better. This is intended as an advocacy tool. It’s been my experience that cis…