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Meeting with Alberta MLA who compared trans youth to feces went south: Advocates
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Aaron Sousa
Published Sep 24, 2024 • 3 minute read
EDMONTON — A transgender Albertan says it would be a slap in the face if Premier Danielle Smith allows back into the government caucus a member who once compared transgender children to feces.
Victoria Bucholtz, with the group Queer Citizens United, said Lacombe-Ponoka legislature member Jennifer Johnson has not rebuilt trust or exhibited understanding.
Bucholtz was one of five people who met last week with Johnson in the hopes of bettering the politician’s relationship with LGBTQ+ Albertans.
“It wasn’t clear that any of her views had changed,” Bucholtz said.
If Johnson returns to caucus, Bucholtz said it would be a sign to LGBTQ+ Albertans that “we do not belong.”
Johnson currently sits as an Independent in the legislature. During the 2023 election campaign, she ran under Smith’s United Conservative Party banner.
She was turfed from the UCP caucus days before the vote, when audio surfaced of a 2022 meeting where Johnson compared transgender youth to a batch of cookies laced with “a little bit of poop.”
Smith said at the time that Johnson was not welcome back in the UCP, but later said Johnson could come back if she did work to educate herself on the issue.
At a town-hall meeting in Red Deer on Aug. 29, Smith told supporters Johnson could be readmitted this fall after policies requiring parental consent for pronoun changes in schools and banning transgender athletes from female sports are passed.
Two weeks ago, Smith told reporters a decision hasn’t been made.
The UCP constituency association in Lacombe-Ponoka called for Johnson to be reinstated in a letter on Sept. 17. It said her hard work to strengthen relationships with constituents is “second to none.”
Johnson met last week with five groups, including Bucholtz’s group, the Lacombe Pride Society, Panoka Pride Society and Central Alberta Pride Society.
A clip of the meeting shared online included a tense exchange where Bucholtz pressed Johnson on whether the politician believes transgender women are women.
“I’ve never been asked that before,” Johnson said.
“Will you say that on the record right now?” Bucholtz asked.
“No, I want to have some time to think on that,” Johnson answered.
Bucholtz then said Johnson wasn’t ready for the conversation. Bucholtz said she wouldn’t be part of the legislature member’s “pinkwashing,” which refers to an insincere display of concern for the LGBTQ+ community.
“Can we disagree and still respect each other?” Johnson asked.
“No,” Bucholtz answered before leaving the meeting. “Goodbye.”
All five groups later denounced the meeting in a joint statement.
“We do not have confidence that (Johnson) would defend queer Albertans’ rights in this provincial government,” the statement said.
“Queer rights are human rights, and they are not up for debate.”
Jonathan Luscombe of the Lacombe Pride Society said the roughly two-minute clip of the 35-minute meeting shows a breaking point after nearly a full year of being patient.
Luscombe doesn’t expect any future meetings to take place with Johnson.
“If you cannot acknowledge all of us, you’re not going to stand up for all of us,” said Luscombe.
“We have done all that we can to show her that she has to step up.”
Stepping up, Bucholtz said, involves Johnson acknowledging that transgender people exist and advocating for their equality under the law.
Johnson could not be reached for comment but, in a social media statement on Sept. 18, said she was happy to meet with the societies to hear their concerns.
“I support the work of Danielle Smith and her UCP government and look forward to working with all members of the legislature in the fall session on the parental rights legislation and other important bills,” said Johnson.
Kristopher Wells, the Canada Research Chair for the public understanding of sexual and gender minority youth, said those who argue against transgender women being women rely on “narrow and very traditional definitions” of what women can be.
“These statements reinforce a very rigid definition of what women should be, how they should act and ultimately how they should live their lives,” said Wells in a statement.
Wells has recently been appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Aaron Sousa
Published Sep 24, 2024 • 3 minute read
EDMONTON — A transgender Albertan says it would be a slap in the face if Premier Danielle Smith allows back into the government caucus a member who once compared transgender children to feces.
Victoria Bucholtz, with the group Queer Citizens United, said Lacombe-Ponoka legislature member Jennifer Johnson has not rebuilt trust or exhibited understanding.
Bucholtz was one of five people who met last week with Johnson in the hopes of bettering the politician’s relationship with LGBTQ+ Albertans.
“It wasn’t clear that any of her views had changed,” Bucholtz said.
If Johnson returns to caucus, Bucholtz said it would be a sign to LGBTQ+ Albertans that “we do not belong.”
Johnson currently sits as an Independent in the legislature. During the 2023 election campaign, she ran under Smith’s United Conservative Party banner.
She was turfed from the UCP caucus days before the vote, when audio surfaced of a 2022 meeting where Johnson compared transgender youth to a batch of cookies laced with “a little bit of poop.”
Smith said at the time that Johnson was not welcome back in the UCP, but later said Johnson could come back if she did work to educate herself on the issue.
At a town-hall meeting in Red Deer on Aug. 29, Smith told supporters Johnson could be readmitted this fall after policies requiring parental consent for pronoun changes in schools and banning transgender athletes from female sports are passed.
Two weeks ago, Smith told reporters a decision hasn’t been made.
The UCP constituency association in Lacombe-Ponoka called for Johnson to be reinstated in a letter on Sept. 17. It said her hard work to strengthen relationships with constituents is “second to none.”
Johnson met last week with five groups, including Bucholtz’s group, the Lacombe Pride Society, Panoka Pride Society and Central Alberta Pride Society.
A clip of the meeting shared online included a tense exchange where Bucholtz pressed Johnson on whether the politician believes transgender women are women.
“I’ve never been asked that before,” Johnson said.
“Will you say that on the record right now?” Bucholtz asked.
“No, I want to have some time to think on that,” Johnson answered.
Bucholtz then said Johnson wasn’t ready for the conversation. Bucholtz said she wouldn’t be part of the legislature member’s “pinkwashing,” which refers to an insincere display of concern for the LGBTQ+ community.
“Can we disagree and still respect each other?” Johnson asked.
“No,” Bucholtz answered before leaving the meeting. “Goodbye.”
All five groups later denounced the meeting in a joint statement.
“We do not have confidence that (Johnson) would defend queer Albertans’ rights in this provincial government,” the statement said.
“Queer rights are human rights, and they are not up for debate.”
Jonathan Luscombe of the Lacombe Pride Society said the roughly two-minute clip of the 35-minute meeting shows a breaking point after nearly a full year of being patient.
Luscombe doesn’t expect any future meetings to take place with Johnson.
“If you cannot acknowledge all of us, you’re not going to stand up for all of us,” said Luscombe.
“We have done all that we can to show her that she has to step up.”
Stepping up, Bucholtz said, involves Johnson acknowledging that transgender people exist and advocating for their equality under the law.
Johnson could not be reached for comment but, in a social media statement on Sept. 18, said she was happy to meet with the societies to hear their concerns.
“I support the work of Danielle Smith and her UCP government and look forward to working with all members of the legislature in the fall session on the parental rights legislation and other important bills,” said Johnson.
Kristopher Wells, the Canada Research Chair for the public understanding of sexual and gender minority youth, said those who argue against transgender women being women rely on “narrow and very traditional definitions” of what women can be.
“These statements reinforce a very rigid definition of what women should be, how they should act and ultimately how they should live their lives,” said Wells in a statement.
Wells has recently been appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Meeting with Alberta MLA who compared trans youth to feces went south: Advocates
transgender Albertan says it would be a slap in the face if Premier Danielle Smith allows Jennifer Johnson back into the government caucus.
LGBTQ minister Pascale St-Onge to make history with parental leave
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Michel Saba
Published Sep 28, 2024 • 3 minute read
OTTAWA — Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is set to make history by becoming the first openly lesbian cabinet minister to take parental leave when her wife gives birth in the coming weeks.
“I’m not someone who really likes to talk about myself or my personal life either,” St-Onge said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
The Quebec MP said she decided to speak publicly about her parental leave because she has “a responsibility to continue the fight” for LGBTQ rights.
St-Onge smiled as she described “the joy” of soon welcoming a baby into her life, which she described as “an incredible experience that many humans go through and that some take for granted.”
Her wife’s pregnancy is going very well, St-Onge said, with a due date in November. The timing, though unplanned, is almost perfect as the House of Commons will rise for the holidays in mid-December, she added.
St-Onge plans to leave Ottawa and work virtually starting in early November. She will be able to attend debates in the House of Commons and vote remotely, as well as take part in cabinet and ministerial committee meetings, and make decisions as a minister.
“After the birth, I’ll definitely be reducing my public presence for a few weeks, but I’ll still be voting until the House rises,” she said.
St-Onge is not naming her wife in order to protect her privacy and spare her partner from the hateful comments and emails the minister receives from people she says are “trying to silence us.” She pointed to an increase in hate crimes against LGBTQ people in Canada in recent years.
A union leader for many years, St-Onge was first elected in 2021 in the riding of Brome — Missisquoi in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. She said she’s committed to fight for people who feel abandoned, and said the Liberals want “to see our society progress and be more respectful of differences.”
St-Onge claimed that Liberal governments have been responsible for many advances in the rights of LGBTQ people in Canada, starting with the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969 by the government of former prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. At the time, Trudeau famously quipped that “there’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.”
In 2005, former prime minister Paul Martin’s Liberal government legalized gay marriage. “I got married that summer,” St-Onge said.
Since forming government in 2015, the Liberals under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have banned conversion therapy and removed the ban on blood donations from gay men.
St-Onge accused Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives of being “the most retrograde” party in Canada, claiming they are “very focused on religious values … and want to see the country move backward” on social issues, including abortion.
In response, the Opposition leader’s office said that St-Onge’s “outrageous claims reveal the deep desperation of Justin Trudeau and his struggling Liberals,” and said the Liberals are “lying to divert attention from the misery they have inflicted on Canadians through their disastrous policies.”
“Progress means accepting that people’s — and parties’ — views can change,” spokesperson Marion Ringuette said in an email.
She pointed to Poilievre’s first speech as Conservative leader, in which he said that Canada is a country “where it doesn’t matter who you love.”
In June 2023, he said during a press conference that he wanted to make Canada “the freest country in the world … for everybody, including gays and lesbians.”
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman is the only other openly lesbian member of Parliament. Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault is the only other cabinet minister from the LGBTQ community.
According to the Hill Times, other LGBTQ MPs include New Democrats Blake Desjarlais and Randall Garrison, Liberals Rob Oliphant and Seamus O’Regan, and Conservative Eric Duncan.
In March 1987, former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps was the first MP in the country’s history to give birth while in office.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Michel Saba
Published Sep 28, 2024 • 3 minute read
OTTAWA — Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is set to make history by becoming the first openly lesbian cabinet minister to take parental leave when her wife gives birth in the coming weeks.
“I’m not someone who really likes to talk about myself or my personal life either,” St-Onge said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
The Quebec MP said she decided to speak publicly about her parental leave because she has “a responsibility to continue the fight” for LGBTQ rights.
St-Onge smiled as she described “the joy” of soon welcoming a baby into her life, which she described as “an incredible experience that many humans go through and that some take for granted.”
Her wife’s pregnancy is going very well, St-Onge said, with a due date in November. The timing, though unplanned, is almost perfect as the House of Commons will rise for the holidays in mid-December, she added.
St-Onge plans to leave Ottawa and work virtually starting in early November. She will be able to attend debates in the House of Commons and vote remotely, as well as take part in cabinet and ministerial committee meetings, and make decisions as a minister.
“After the birth, I’ll definitely be reducing my public presence for a few weeks, but I’ll still be voting until the House rises,” she said.
St-Onge is not naming her wife in order to protect her privacy and spare her partner from the hateful comments and emails the minister receives from people she says are “trying to silence us.” She pointed to an increase in hate crimes against LGBTQ people in Canada in recent years.
A union leader for many years, St-Onge was first elected in 2021 in the riding of Brome — Missisquoi in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. She said she’s committed to fight for people who feel abandoned, and said the Liberals want “to see our society progress and be more respectful of differences.”
St-Onge claimed that Liberal governments have been responsible for many advances in the rights of LGBTQ people in Canada, starting with the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969 by the government of former prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. At the time, Trudeau famously quipped that “there’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.”
In 2005, former prime minister Paul Martin’s Liberal government legalized gay marriage. “I got married that summer,” St-Onge said.
Since forming government in 2015, the Liberals under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have banned conversion therapy and removed the ban on blood donations from gay men.
St-Onge accused Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives of being “the most retrograde” party in Canada, claiming they are “very focused on religious values … and want to see the country move backward” on social issues, including abortion.
In response, the Opposition leader’s office said that St-Onge’s “outrageous claims reveal the deep desperation of Justin Trudeau and his struggling Liberals,” and said the Liberals are “lying to divert attention from the misery they have inflicted on Canadians through their disastrous policies.”
“Progress means accepting that people’s — and parties’ — views can change,” spokesperson Marion Ringuette said in an email.
She pointed to Poilievre’s first speech as Conservative leader, in which he said that Canada is a country “where it doesn’t matter who you love.”
In June 2023, he said during a press conference that he wanted to make Canada “the freest country in the world … for everybody, including gays and lesbians.”
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman is the only other openly lesbian member of Parliament. Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault is the only other cabinet minister from the LGBTQ community.
According to the Hill Times, other LGBTQ MPs include New Democrats Blake Desjarlais and Randall Garrison, Liberals Rob Oliphant and Seamus O’Regan, and Conservative Eric Duncan.
In March 1987, former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps was the first MP in the country’s history to give birth while in office.
LGBTQ minister Pascale St-Onge to make history with parental leave
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is set to make history by becoming the first lesbian cabinet minister to take parental leave
so she's going to go from not doing anything to not doing anything.LGBTQ minister Pascale St-Onge to make history with parental leave
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Michel Saba
Published Sep 28, 2024 • 3 minute read
OTTAWA — Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is set to make history by becoming the first openly lesbian cabinet minister to take parental leave when her wife gives birth in the coming weeks.
“I’m not someone who really likes to talk about myself or my personal life either,” St-Onge said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
The Quebec MP said she decided to speak publicly about her parental leave because she has “a responsibility to continue the fight” for LGBTQ rights.
St-Onge smiled as she described “the joy” of soon welcoming a baby into her life, which she described as “an incredible experience that many humans go through and that some take for granted.”
Her wife’s pregnancy is going very well, St-Onge said, with a due date in November. The timing, though unplanned, is almost perfect as the House of Commons will rise for the holidays in mid-December, she added.
St-Onge plans to leave Ottawa and work virtually starting in early November. She will be able to attend debates in the House of Commons and vote remotely, as well as take part in cabinet and ministerial committee meetings, and make decisions as a minister.
“After the birth, I’ll definitely be reducing my public presence for a few weeks, but I’ll still be voting until the House rises,” she said.
St-Onge is not naming her wife in order to protect her privacy and spare her partner from the hateful comments and emails the minister receives from people she says are “trying to silence us.” She pointed to an increase in hate crimes against LGBTQ people in Canada in recent years.
A union leader for many years, St-Onge was first elected in 2021 in the riding of Brome — Missisquoi in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. She said she’s committed to fight for people who feel abandoned, and said the Liberals want “to see our society progress and be more respectful of differences.”
St-Onge claimed that Liberal governments have been responsible for many advances in the rights of LGBTQ people in Canada, starting with the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1969 by the government of former prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. At the time, Trudeau famously quipped that “there’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.”
In 2005, former prime minister Paul Martin’s Liberal government legalized gay marriage. “I got married that summer,” St-Onge said.
Since forming government in 2015, the Liberals under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have banned conversion therapy and removed the ban on blood donations from gay men.
St-Onge accused Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives of being “the most retrograde” party in Canada, claiming they are “very focused on religious values … and want to see the country move backward” on social issues, including abortion.
In response, the Opposition leader’s office said that St-Onge’s “outrageous claims reveal the deep desperation of Justin Trudeau and his struggling Liberals,” and said the Liberals are “lying to divert attention from the misery they have inflicted on Canadians through their disastrous policies.”
“Progress means accepting that people’s — and parties’ — views can change,” spokesperson Marion Ringuette said in an email.
She pointed to Poilievre’s first speech as Conservative leader, in which he said that Canada is a country “where it doesn’t matter who you love.”
In June 2023, he said during a press conference that he wanted to make Canada “the freest country in the world … for everybody, including gays and lesbians.”
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman is the only other openly lesbian member of Parliament. Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault is the only other cabinet minister from the LGBTQ community.
According to the Hill Times, other LGBTQ MPs include New Democrats Blake Desjarlais and Randall Garrison, Liberals Rob Oliphant and Seamus O’Regan, and Conservative Eric Duncan.
In March 1987, former deputy prime minister Sheila Copps was the first MP in the country’s history to give birth while in office.
LGBTQ minister Pascale St-Onge to make history with parental leave
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is set to make history by becoming the first lesbian cabinet minister to take parental leave
“I’m not someone who really likes to talk about myself or my personal life either,” St-Onge said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
The Quebec MP said she decided to speak publicly about her parental leave because she has “a responsibility to continue the fight” for LGBTQ rights.
I find this somewhat difficult to believe. It's her job in that role to do just that.
The Quebec MP said she decided to speak publicly about her parental leave because she has “a responsibility to continue the fight” for LGBTQ rights.
I find this somewhat difficult to believe. It's her job in that role to do just that.
The right to forbid others to disagree, or even comment on, their choices.
It's right there in the Charter of Rahts and Freedumbs!
No its not. As a small town pizza lawyer you should know that Ham and Pineapple isnt a Right. We're allowed to say its fucking disgusting and refuse to add it to the menu.
The whimsy of the minority isnt grounds to kybosh the freedom to express the Right to state its disgusting or force it on the menu.
No it doesnt. Freedom of thought, belief and expression within reason.
The Charter only covers the actions of the Federal Govt.
Have no clue, I don't think we should have a Minster of the LGBTQIA+ community either. First Nations makes sense, the other does not.