“[It] she hit my bangs as she walked by,” said Jetté Knox, who identifies as non-binary and uses her pronouns.[They] he called me a freak of the king and I left.’ It was the first time Jetté Knox had experienced anything so violent, but the proud activist and author has endured plenty of hateful comments since publicly sharing his family’s story several years ago. One of Jetté Knox’s four children is non-binary and came out in 2014. The following year, Jetté Knox’s wife came out as a trans woman. Now, they’re closely watching the rise of anti-LGBTQ hate in the United States, where gender diversity and expression have become popular targets for Republican politicians, far-right groups and online trolls. Amanda Jetté Knox, shown at right, and wife Zoë, live in Ottawa with their four children. (Submitted by Amanda Jetté Knox) Jetté Knox, and other advocates and experts, see it spreading to Canada as well. Threatening phone calls recently led to the cancellation of a family show at the Victoria café, while other drag-queen storytime events at public libraries elsewhere in Canada they have also been bullied. Pride flags have been torn and/or damaged London, Ont., Delta, BCand Ottawa. In early June, a 17-year-old was arrested in Mississauga, Ont. threatening to carry out a mass shooting at a West Palm Beach, Fla., Pride celebration. “I feel like it’s just a matter of time before we start seeing more of these in our backyard,” Jetté Knox told CBC News. “I’m a pretty positive person, but I’m worried right now.”
Hate “is spilling over borders”, says the professor
Anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ hate is always “simmering,” including in Canada, said Prof. Barbara Perry, director of the Center on Hate, Bias and Extremism based at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa. A survey released by Statistics Canada in 2020 found that transgender people were more likely to experience physical or sexual violence than non-trans people in Canada. They were also more likely to experience “inappropriate behaviour” in public, at work and online, which Statistics Canada defined as acts that “make people feel unsafe or uncomfortable” and have a lasting impact on mental and physical health. But it appears far-right groups here have been more emboldened by what Perry describes as the “horrific narratives and policy changes” seen in the US Since the beginning of this year, the US-based Human Rights Campaign has documented more than 300 proposed bills, introduced in 36 states, that directly target transgender rights, gender diversity and expression. These include efforts to probe families who help affirm their child’s gender identity, limiting education and discussion about LGBTQ people, limiting children’s participation in sports, and even trying to ban children from attending drag shows. “This crosses borders, obviously, into the Canadian narrative as well, and it informs the far right here,” Perry told CBC News. WATCHES | All-ages drag shows subject to online hate:
All-ages transportation events in Canadian libraries that address threats and hate mail
Alex Saunders, a drag performer who volunteers and runs a drag storytime with the Saint John Free Public Library, says they have been the target of hate mail from right-wing groups.
Advocates accused of ‘grooming’ children
Harmful language aimed at denigrating transgender people and those who support them, as preying on or indoctrinating children, is routinely used online and in far-right media — in particular, “grooming” or “grooming.” It’s a trope that has long been used to disparage LGBTQ people who are seeing a surge in internet usage. Jetté Knox said they are called a groomer online “almost every day” because of their gender identity, because they are raising a non-binary child or because of their trans rights activism. It has also happened in person. They were traveling in the United States recently and attended a Virginia school board meeting with friends and their children to recognize Pride Month. The protesters hurled insults at them. “Some pretty awful things were said,” recalls Jetté Knox. “They told us we were indoctrinating children.” The Canadian Network Against Hate has documented this narrative appearing in far-right political discourse in this country. WATCHES | A human rights campaign edited language used against transgender people: Cancer. Terrorist. Problem. These are the ways anti-LGBTQ+ lawmakers nationwide describe the people they serve. pic.twitter.com/NrS2LlgRZq —@HRC They are actually far-right groups that “groom” people, Perry said, slowly attracting new followers to their ideologies by tapping into their anxieties and insecurities. Some far-right, religious and other groups have portrayed gender-affirming care for transgender youth as “child abuseand push to limit access to health care, such as hormones, to delay puberty and promote development consistent with a child’s gender identity. Various medical groups, including American Medical Associationthey say such policies are “dangerous” and “gender-affirming past care can have tragic health consequences.” It is a means of “lending credibility and legitimacy” to extreme views, Perry explained, because they are presented as “protecting the vulnerable.”
Transphobia is a “gateway” to far-right ideology
Focusing on transgender and genderqueer youth is one way to win public approval for broader acceptance of anti-transgender policies and attitudes, said Florence Ashley, a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto’s School of Law and Joint Center for Bioethics whose project revolves around transgender rights.
“Transphobia often tends to be a gateway to the far right,” said Ashley, who uses their/their pronouns.
They noted how social media algorithms also play a role in this. The American non-profit organization Media Matters For America, for example, looked into the way anti-trans content on TikTok served as a gateway for far-right and white supremacist content, conspiracy theories and even calls for violence.
Ashley also highlighted the similarities that the current climate of transphobia has with what is known as the “great replacement” of conspiracy theory being propagated by far-right and white nationalist movements, and in some conservative media. It is a racist claim that whites are being systematically replaced by immigrants.
Feeling “disempowered in society,” they explained, makes it easier to blame people you perceive as “trying to replace you.”
It’s something that happens “in times of crisis and high stress, as we’ve seen in the last couple of years,” Perry said. “We’re always looking for scapegoats, looking for somewhere to direct our anger or our fears or our worries.”
Florence Ashley is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and Joint Center for Bioethics whose work revolves around trans rights. (Submitted by Florence Ashley)
The balance of political power can change in an instant
While gender identity and expression are protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, Jetté Knox is irritated by the emergence of “more far-right parties,” some of which have candidates who criticize gender diversity and expression. They worry that voters may not follow such candidates’ comments and promises on gender diversity issues as closely because it doesn’t affect their lives the way it affects Jetté Knox’s LGBTQ family. Ashley warned that it only takes a “shift in political power for groups to really start imposing their will on a population” and that’s why people in Canada should keep a close eye on what’s happening in the US They noted how the recent US Supreme Court, stacked with conservative justices during Donald Trump’s tenure, overturned Roe v. Wade, the nearly 50-year-old decision that enshrined the right to access abortion. That ruling could set a precedent for overturning rulings on same-sex marriage and same-sex intimacy for consenting adults, something Justice Clarence Thomas hinted at in his consent on Roe v. Wade. Jetté Knox urged those who care about transgender rights and freedoms to vote. “To see these rights under attack elsewhere scares me a lot because it means they may be under attack in Canada as well,” they said. “I think these things are going to be challenged and I think we have to prepare for that.”
Creating a positive online space for transgender people
Despite the apparent increase in online slurs and hate against LGBTQ people, young trans people like Vancouver’s Noah Young are helping to maintain positivity online and inform others about their transgender experiences. Yang, who uses the pronouns he and him, shares his gender confirmation journey on Instagram. He said he is lucky to have only experienced negativity “a few times” and has been largely encouraged. “It was unexpected that showing the physical scars and the physical changes would inspire people and, you know, open people’s eyes to … what can really happen during someone’s transition.” Noah Yang, who has been documenting his medical transition for nearly four years, said it started as something personal for him, but later felt a responsibility to share his story and be open about his experience. (Submitted by Noah Yang) It recognizes that not everyone has the ability to drown out the negativity directed at people of the opposite sex. But for Yang, the importance of visibility outweighs any hatred. “I think it’s beneficial because…
title: “Transphobia Is Gaining Ground In The Us. Transgender People In Canada Are Worried It Could Happen Here " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-14” author: “Carl Morrison”
“[It] she hit my bangs as she walked by,” said Jetté Knox, who identifies as non-binary and uses her pronouns.[They] he called me a freak of the king and I left.’ It was the first time Jetté Knox had experienced anything so violent, but the proud activist and author has endured plenty of hateful comments since publicly sharing his family’s story several years ago. One of Jetté Knox’s four children is non-binary and came out in 2014. The following year, Jetté Knox’s wife came out as a trans woman. Now, they’re closely watching the rise of anti-LGBTQ hate in the United States, where gender diversity and expression have become popular targets for Republican politicians, far-right groups and online trolls. Amanda Jetté Knox, shown at right, and wife Zoë, live in Ottawa with their four children. (Submitted by Amanda Jetté Knox) Jetté Knox, and other advocates and experts, see it spreading to Canada as well. Threatening phone calls recently led to the cancellation of a family show at the Victoria café, while other drag-queen storytime events at public libraries elsewhere in Canada they have also been bullied. Pride flags have been torn and/or damaged London, Ont., Delta, BCand Ottawa. In early June, a 17-year-old was arrested in Mississauga, Ont. threatening to carry out a mass shooting at a West Palm Beach, Fla., Pride celebration. “I feel like it’s just a matter of time before we start seeing more of these in our backyard,” Jetté Knox told CBC News. “I’m a pretty positive person, but I’m worried right now.”
Hate “is spilling over borders”, says the professor
Anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ hate is always “simmering,” including in Canada, said Prof. Barbara Perry, director of the Center on Hate, Bias and Extremism based at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa. A survey released by Statistics Canada in 2020 found that transgender people were more likely to experience physical or sexual violence than non-trans people in Canada. They were also more likely to experience “inappropriate behaviour” in public, at work and online, which Statistics Canada defined as acts that “make people feel unsafe or uncomfortable” and have a lasting impact on mental and physical health. But it appears far-right groups here have been more emboldened by what Perry describes as the “horrific narratives and policy changes” seen in the US Since the beginning of this year, the US-based Human Rights Campaign has documented more than 300 proposed bills, introduced in 36 states, that directly target transgender rights, gender diversity and expression. These include efforts to probe families who help affirm their child’s gender identity, limiting education and discussion about LGBTQ people, limiting children’s participation in sports, and even trying to ban children from attending drag shows. “This crosses borders, obviously, into the Canadian narrative as well, and it informs the far right here,” Perry told CBC News. WATCHES | All-ages drag shows subject to online hate:
All-ages transportation events in Canadian libraries that address threats and hate mail
Alex Saunders, a drag performer who volunteers and runs a drag storytime with the Saint John Free Public Library, says they have been the target of hate mail from right-wing groups.
Advocates accused of ‘grooming’ children
Harmful language aimed at denigrating transgender people and those who support them, as preying on or indoctrinating children, is routinely used online and in far-right media — in particular, “grooming” or “grooming.” It’s a trope that has long been used to disparage LGBTQ people who are seeing a surge in internet usage. Jetté Knox said they are called a groomer online “almost every day” because of their gender identity, because they are raising a non-binary child or because of their trans rights activism. It has also happened in person. They were traveling in the United States recently and attended a Virginia school board meeting with friends and their children to recognize Pride Month. The protesters hurled insults at them. “Some pretty awful things were said,” recalls Jetté Knox. “They told us we were indoctrinating children.” The Canadian Network Against Hate has documented this narrative appearing in far-right political discourse in this country. WATCHES | A human rights campaign edited language used against transgender people: Cancer. Terrorist. Problem. These are the ways anti-LGBTQ+ lawmakers nationwide describe the people they serve. pic.twitter.com/NrS2LlgRZq —@HRC They are actually far-right groups that “groom” people, Perry said, slowly attracting new followers to their ideologies by tapping into their anxieties and insecurities. Some far-right, religious and other groups have portrayed gender-affirming care for transgender youth as “child abuseand push to limit access to health care, such as hormones, to delay puberty and promote development consistent with a child’s gender identity. Various medical groups, including American Medical Associationthey say such policies are “dangerous” and “gender-affirming past care can have tragic health consequences.” It is a means of “lending credibility and legitimacy” to extreme views, Perry explained, because they are presented as “protecting the vulnerable.”
Transphobia is a “gateway” to far-right ideology
Focusing on transgender and genderqueer youth is one way to win public approval for broader acceptance of anti-transgender policies and attitudes, said Florence Ashley, a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto’s School of Law and Joint Center for Bioethics whose project revolves around transgender rights.
“Transphobia often tends to be a gateway to the far right,” said Ashley, who uses their/their pronouns.
They noted how social media algorithms also play a role in this. The American non-profit organization Media Matters For America, for example, looked into the way anti-trans content on TikTok served as a gateway for far-right and white supremacist content, conspiracy theories and even calls for violence.
Ashley also highlighted the similarities that the current climate of transphobia has with what is known as the “great replacement” of conspiracy theory being propagated by far-right and white nationalist movements, and in some conservative media. It is a racist claim that whites are being systematically replaced by immigrants.
Feeling “disempowered in society,” they explained, makes it easier to blame people you perceive as “trying to replace you.”
It’s something that happens “in times of crisis and high stress, as we’ve seen in the last couple of years,” Perry said. “We’re always looking for scapegoats, looking for somewhere to direct our anger or our fears or our worries.”
Florence Ashley is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and Joint Center for Bioethics whose work revolves around trans rights. (Submitted by Florence Ashley)
The balance of political power can change in an instant
While gender identity and expression are protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, Jetté Knox is irritated by the emergence of “more far-right parties,” some of which have candidates who criticize gender diversity and expression. They worry that voters may not follow such candidates’ comments and promises on gender diversity issues as closely because it doesn’t affect their lives the way it affects Jetté Knox’s LGBTQ family. Ashley warned that it only takes a “shift in political power for groups to really start imposing their will on a population” and that’s why people in Canada should keep a close eye on what’s happening in the US They noted how the recent US Supreme Court, stacked with conservative justices during Donald Trump’s tenure, overturned Roe v. Wade, the nearly 50-year-old decision that enshrined the right to access abortion. That ruling could set a precedent for overturning rulings on same-sex marriage and same-sex intimacy for consenting adults, something Justice Clarence Thomas hinted at in his consent on Roe v. Wade. Jetté Knox urged those who care about transgender rights and freedoms to vote. “To see these rights under attack elsewhere scares me a lot because it means they may be under attack in Canada as well,” they said. “I think these things are going to be challenged and I think we have to prepare for that.”
Creating a positive online space for transgender people
Despite the apparent increase in online slurs and hate against LGBTQ people, young trans people like Vancouver’s Noah Young are helping to maintain positivity online and inform others about their transgender experiences. Yang, who uses the pronouns he and him, shares his gender confirmation journey on Instagram. He said he is lucky to have only experienced negativity “a few times” and has been largely encouraged. “It was unexpected that showing the physical scars and the physical changes would inspire people and, you know, open people’s eyes to … what can really happen during someone’s transition.” Noah Yang, who has been documenting his medical transition for nearly four years, said it started as something personal for him, but later felt a responsibility to share his story and be open about his experience. (Submitted by Noah Yang) It recognizes that not everyone has the ability to drown out the negativity directed at people of the opposite sex. But for Yang, the importance of visibility outweighs any hatred. “I think it’s beneficial because…
