GD's Political Animal: LGBTQ

Showing posts with label LGBTQ. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

BC man ordered to pay $760K for online posts

Former Chilliwack, British Columbia, school trustee Barry Neufeld, one of the loudest online critics of the provincial government's sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) guidelines, has been ordered by the BC Human rights Tribunal to pay $750,000 in damages to the school board's 2SLGBTQ+ teachers, plus $10,000 in punitive damages.

Former B.C. school trustee ordered to pay $750K for hate speech, discrimination: human rights tribunal | CBC News | Lauren Vanderdeen: ·

February 20, 2026 - "The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ordered former Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld to pay $750,000 for violating the Human Rights Code by publishing hate speech and discriminatory content against 2SLGBTQ+ people.... Neufeld was one of the 'loudest critics' against the B.C. government's move in 2017 directing school boards to update codes of conduct to address bullying based on "SOGI,' or sexual orientation and gender identity, according to the tribunal’s decision.... Neufeld did not respond to CBC News's request for comment by publication deadline....

"Neufeld's publications included Facebook posts, a speech at a gathering, a widely-circulated email, and comments at a school board meeting and in the media. The tribunal found six of his publications were likely to expose trans, gay and lesbian people to hatred or contempt based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.... More than 20 of Neufeld's publications indicated discrimination or an intention to discriminate against 2SLGBTQ+ people in the Chilliwack School District....

"The BCTF and Chilliwack Teachers' Association sought an award of $750,000 in compensation to teachers' association members who identify as LGBTQ between October 2017 through 2022 for injury to their dignity, feelings and self-respect. The tribunal agreed with the award, saying Neufeld 'poisoned' the workplace with anti-2SLGBTQ+ discrimination. The tribunal said the $750,000 will result in individual awards between around $4,600 to $16,667 per class member, according to the decision. It noted the purpose of the award is to compensate for the harms of discrimination rather than be punitive....

"A second decision from the tribunal, also released Wednesday, ordered Neufeld to pay $10,000 in punitive costs for improper conduct during the complaint. The tribunal said Neufeld 'repeatedly and flagrantly demonstrated his disregard for the Human Rights Tribunal and its process' and deliberately violated the tribunal's rules and orders. The tribunal said he 'surreptitiously' recorded a pre-hearing conference call and posted the recording on YouTube and published privileged information about settlement discussions."

Man FINED $750K for Saying There are 2 Genders SPEAKS OUT | Barry Neufeld | The Bridgehead | February 24, 2026:

Lisa Bildy: Human rights rules on gender ideology are just blasphemy laws | National Post | Lisa Bildy:

Feb 26, 2026 - "Oppressively enforced beliefs are back. But those beliefs don’t emanate from pulpits. It’s no longer Christianity demanding adherence to beliefs, but the secular religion of social justice. Neufeld learned the hard way that gender identity is now an unquestionable tenet of this new faith. Human rights tribunals are its enforcers under the guise of punishing 'discrimination.' The curriculum he criticized, introduced in 2016, roughly coincided with 'gender identity' becoming a protected class under human rights codes across Canada.

"In 2006, publisher Ezra Levant faced a discrimination complaint for reprinting the Danish cartoons of Mohammed. He and Mark Steyn, who faced similar complaints for commentary on Islam published in Maclean’s magazine, drew attention to tribunal overreach, leading to the repeal of section 13 of the Canada Human Rights Act, which had empowered the tribunal to punish 'hate speech'....

"[T]he federal Online Harms Bill, introduced by the previous Liberal government and floated again by the current government ... proposes to restore those hate speech enforcement powers to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.... But that’s obviously already happening, at least in British Columbia. In an interim decision in Neufeld’s case, B.C.’s Human Rights Tribunal decided that, although previous decisions of the tribunal had found otherwise, it actually does have the power to regulate online posts under its existing legislation....

"This case expands limits on freedom of expression in two significant ways.

First, disparaging gender ideology — even when targeting ideas, not people — was found to be discriminatory. B.C.’s human rights commissioner argued that’s the way it should be.... Mark Steyn avoided punishment for his commentary on Islam, also litigated in B.C., because it was considered political commentary within the bounds of free expression. Today’s human rights functionaries won’t abide such limits on their power.
Second, the expanded interpretation was applied to an elected trustee, whose role is to challenge policies and raise concerns about educational changes. Bureaucrats now dictate what elected officials can say on public policy matters....

"The $750,000 fine against Neufeld is unprecedented in the human rights context. While framed as compensation for “harm” to LGBTQ teachers, it was clearly intended to financially ruin him for his speech and refusal to embrace gender identity. It also serves as a warning to anyone considering criticism of the new faith. Blasphemy laws are back.

"Public outrage is growing, and politicians are being pressured to act. Reining in these star chambers is no longer good enough. Legislatures must abolish them, along with the human rights codes that they enforce. That requires political backbone, so don’t hold your breath. Instead, call, write, or sign a petition like ours at the Free Speech Union to let your political leaders know how many Canadians oppose financial ruin for expressing opinions on issues affecting themselves and their children."

Lisa Bildy is a lawyer and executive director of the Free Speech Union of Canada. She can be found on X at @LDBildy.

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Nurse ordered to pay $93K for online comments

British Columbia nurse Amy Hamm, whose 2020 co-sponsorship of a billboard praising J.K. Rowling led to a years-long investigation of her online comments by the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives, has been suspended and ordered to pay the College almost $100,000.

B.C. nurse suspended by college, asked to pay $94K in costs for comments about transgender people | CBC News | Canadian Press:

August 16, 2025 - "A B.C. nurse has been suspended and asked to pay nearly $94,000 in costs for making 'discriminatory and derogatory statements' about transgender people. The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives says a disciplinary panel has issued a decision against Amy Hamm, suspending her for one month while also ordering her to pay the college costs and disbursements within two years.

"The panel said in its verdict in March that Hamm committed professional misconduct for making statements across 'various online platforms' between July 2018 and March 2021 that were partly designed 'to elicit fear, contempt and outrage against members of the transgender community.' The college says Hamm has filed an appeal of the discipline order in B.C. Supreme Court, and the decision on penalty and costs is stayed until that appeal has been resolved....

"Hamm has maintained that she is not transphobic, and she takes issue with an 'infringement on women and children's rights,' and was particularly concerned with transgender women having access to women-only spaces like prisons and change rooms. She previously said she completely rejects the concept of gender identity, calling it 'anti-scientific, metaphysical nonsense,' and on social media posts has referred to transgender women as men.

"Hamm has received supportive statements from a wave of online followers, including author J.K. Rowling, and has written several columns for a variety of media outlets on multiple issues, including politics and crime, as well as sex and gender. She helped pay for a billboard in Vancouver supporting Rowling after she shared her views on gender identity online."

Amy Hamm with billboard in 2020. (Photo courtesy Amy Hamm / JCCF).

BC College of Nurses and Midwives orders Amy Hamm to pay $93,639.80 and suspends her license for one month | Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (news release):

August 14, 2025 - "Ms. Hamm had worked in healthcare for over 13 years and had been promoted to be a nurse educator. In 2020, she co-sponsored a Vancouver billboard that read, 'I ♥ JK Rowling,' referencing the author’s support for women’s rights and the right of women to access female-only spaces, such as washrooms, crisis centres, sporting events, and prisons. Following complaints from activists and a Vancouver city councillor, the billboard was removed, and two formal complaints were filed with the College accusing Ms. Hamm of transphobia and hate speech.

"The College launched an investigation that led to a 332-page report examining Ms. Hamm’s public statements between 2018 and 2021, including tweets, articles, and podcasts. The College’s Inquiry Committee argued that Ms. Hamm had made discriminatory and derogatory comments about transgender people while identifying as a nurse. After 22 days of hearings spanning a year and a half, the College’s disciplinary panel ruled that four of her statements amounted to unprofessional conduct.

"Ms. Hamm has already appealed the College’s finding of unprofessional conduct to the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Her lawyer, Lisa Bildy, noted, 'In our view, the panel made a number of legal and factual errors that make the decision unsound, and we look forward to arguing these points before the BC Supreme Court. We are now considering whether to appeal the penalty decision as well.... This decision effectively penalizes a nurse for expressing mainstream views aligned with science and common sense,' continued Ms. Bildy. 'The Panel’s ruling imposes a chilling effect on free expression for all regulated professionals.'

"Ms. Hamm said, 'The College has chosen to punish me for statements that are not hateful, but truthful. I’m appealing because biological reality matters, and so does freedom of expression. I want to express my thanks to the thousands of Canadians who continue to fund my legal case through donations to the Justice Centre.'"

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Top UK court backs biological definition of 'woman'

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.

Supreme Court backs 'biological' definition of woman | BBC | Angus Cochrane:

April 16, 2025 - "Judges at the UK Supreme Court have unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. It marks the culmination of a long-running legal battle which could have major implications for how sex-based rights apply across Scotland, England and Wales.

"The court sided with campaign group For Women Scotland, which brought a case against the Scottish government arguing that sex-based protections should only apply to people that are born female.... The Scottish government argued in court that transgender people with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) are entitled to the same sex-based protections as biological women. The Supreme Court was asked to decide on the proper interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act, which applies across Britain.

"Lord Hodge said the central question was how the words 'woman' and 'sex' are defined in the legislation. He told the court: 'The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex. But we counsel against reading this judgement as a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another'.... He added that the legislation gives transgender people 'protection, not only against discrimination through the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, but also against direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and harassment in substance in their acquired gender'....

"The Equality Act provides protection against discrimination on the basis of various characteristics, including 'sex' and 'gender reassignment'. Judges at the Supreme Court in London were asked to rule on what that law means by 'sex' - whether it means biological sex, or legal, 'certificated' sex as defined by the 2004 Gender Recognition Act.

"The Scottish government argued the 2004 legislation was clear that obtaining a GRC amounts to a change of sex 'for all purposes'. For Women Scotland argued for a 'common sense' interpretation of the words man and woman, telling the court that sex is an 'immutable biological state'.

"Speaking outside the Supreme Court following the ruling, For Women Scotland co-founder Susan Smith said: 'Today the judges have said what we always believed to be the case, that women are protected by their biological sex. Sex is real and women can now feel safe that services and spaces designated for women are for women and we are enormously grateful to the Supreme Court for this ruling.'

"First Minister John Swinney said the Scottish government accepted the judgement.... Swinney added: 'Protecting the rights of all will underpin our actions.' A Scottish government spokesperson insisted ministers had acted 'in good faith during the legal proceedings, and noted that the Equality and Human Rights Commission was updating its guidance in response to the judgement."

What is a woman? Supreme Court sees sense – Helen Joyce and Michael Foran | The Spectator | April 16, 2025:

Saturday, December 21, 2024

Emo ON seeks judicial review of Pride fines

The township of Emo, Ontario, has applied for judicial review of the provincial Human Rights Tribunal's decision that fined the township and mayor $15,000 in total for voting not to proclaim Pride Month.

Emo township seeks judicial review of tribunal penalty over lack of Pride proclamation | True North | Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire:

December 20, 2024 - "After the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal ordered a small town and its mayor to pay $15,000 fines for “discriminating” against a Pride group for not declaring June as Pride Month, the two are applying for a judicial review of the case.

The northern Ontario township of Emo announced that it has applied for a judicial review to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to have the November decision quashed and sent back to the Human Rights Tribunal... The tribunal found that Emo, Ont., discriminated against Borderland Pride when it voted to refrain from accepting the verbiage of a draft proclamation written by the pride group.

"In the announcement, the town noted that despite being labelled as discriminatory against the LGBT community, it made a 'Declaration of Equality' in 2022, after the vote and before the tribunal decision, which recognized the 'dignity and worth' of LGBT people and the barriers they may face in society. The town announced that it would not provide further comment because the matter was before the divisional courts.

"The tribunal ordered the town to pay Borderland Pride $10,000. Its mayor, Harold McQuaker, was fined $5,000. McQuaker and the township’s chief administrative officer, hired after the vote, were also ordered to take a 'Human Rights 101' eLearning Module by Dec. 20. McQuaker publicly refused to pay the damages ordered against him at the beginning of the month, prompting Borderland Pride to take enforcement action against him and have the money garnished directly from his account.

"According to the notice of the judicial review application obtained by True North, the town and McQuaker want the tribunal to reexamine the case and have the orders against them stayed, claiming that the decision was 'unreasonable and incorrect.' The applicants demand that any orders placed on them be halted until the human rights tribunal reexamines the matter. They also want the $5,000 –plus interest and taxes – garnished from McQuaker’s account to be returned in the meantime. They claim that the money was unfairly taken from the mayor as it was garnished before the 30-day timeline to apply for judicial review had passed.

"The tribunal based its discrimination finding on a statement McQuaker made at a later, council meeting in which he pointed out that the township wasn’t flying a flag for anyone – and to fly the flag would be a political statement to which the alternative 'straight flag' isn’t being flown. Because the tribunal found McQuaker to have not acted in good faith when voting, he was disqualified from being shielded from paying damages as municipal workers in Ontario typically are for actions taken while performing their duties.

"The applicants argue that the court should not have used the mayor’s post-vote statements to determine if he had discriminated against the Pride group for voting not accepting its verbiage and proclamation. The applicants argue that the tribunal failed to explain why it declined to accept alternative explanations for McQuakers statements, including that he sought to be inclusive and that it didn’t support its claim that he acted in bad faith with 'any articulable' facts.... The applicants also argue that the orders against the CAO of the town, who was hired after the incident in question, demonstrate the unreasonableness of the decision. She allegedly was not informed that she would be subject to enforcement and wasn’t given a chance to defend herself.

"Among other problems the applicants have with the decision, they also took issue with the finding that Borderland Pride could even be paid compensation for injury to its 'dignity, feelings and self-respect,' as it is a corporation and not a human under the human rights code."

Mayor of Emo, ON Faces $5,000 fine and 're-education' over pride flag ruling | Rebel News | December 14, 2024:

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Pride group garnishes ON mayor's bank account

Borderland Pride has garnished Emo, Ontario, mayor Harold McQuaker's bank account for the $5,000 the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal awarded the group after McQuaker voted against proclaiming Pride Month in Emo.

Mayor who stood up to Pride group has bank account garnished | Toronto Sun | Joe Warmington:

December 7, 2024 - "LGBTQ2+ activists have literally made Emo Township Mayor Harold McQuaker pay for daring to stand up to them. Although the Northern Ontario municipal leader vowed not to honour a $5,000 fine the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) levied against him for comments surrounding town council not approving a motion to approve Pride month, he wasn’t given a choice. In fact, the winner of the judgement that McQuaker called 'extortion' has boasted it has already gone into his bank account to collect the money....

“'Mayor McQuaker’s comments in the Toronto Sun and other media were very clear that he did not respect nor intend to comply with the Tribunal’s orders,' Borderland Pride said in an email.

"'Consequently, it was apparent he would not voluntarily make payment of the damages ordered. We took immediate action to garnish his bank account.'

"What McQuaker told the Sun was, 'I utterly refuse to pay the $5,000 because that’s extortion' and also said he would not partake in an Ontario Human Rights Commission re-education course....

"Borderland Pride said, 'The garnishment was issued by the court and delivered to the CIBC in Emo, which is the only bank in that community' and 'there is no hearing or application to issue a notice of garnishment – it is a service provided at the court counter or online once a person has an order for the payment of money.' Borderland Pride also wrote, 'Orders of the Tribunal can be enforced in the same manner as any civil judgment for the payment of money. We intend to ensure the Tribunal’s orders are complied with'....

"Cancel culture is cancelling this mayor and digging into his personal savings too. On a weak premise that there is discrimination of LGBT people there, the enforcement is harsher than most violent criminals receive. It seems like a heavy-handed, undemocratic move, not to mention a violation of personal finances, and cruel and unusual punishment....

"The state using legal instruments to take from one person and give to others amounts to communism and authoritarianism that should scare every citizen. First, we saw government and banks freezing accounts of pandemic lockdown protesters, seizing donations to crowdfunding sites, and now in woke Canada comes word they can raid bank accounts, too....

"There is no decision so far on the status of the $10,000 fine HRTO slapped on the Township of Emo for the 2020 decision by town council to vote three to two against granting a request for there to be a Pride month in the village of just 1,400 people.... Borderland Pride said they have so far not garnished the township as they await that decision."

Friday, December 6, 2024

Alberta "trans" bills passed in legislature

The Alberta government's "trans" bills have passed third reading in the provincial legislature.

Alberta passes laws to protect parental rights, ban child gender transitions | True North Wire | Isaac Lamoureux:

December 5, 2024 - "The Legislative Assembly of Alberta has passed a trio of bills that strengthen parental rights, promote fairness in sports, and prevent minors from undergoing irreversible gender transition procedures they may later regret. Bill 26, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, Bill 27, the Education Amendment Act, and Bill 29, the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, each passed their third reading and will come into effect following royal proclamation.... Alberta Premier Danielle Smith previously highlighted that the legislation would protect youth. 'The changes we’re introducing are founded on compassion and science, both of which are vital for the development of youth throughout a time that can be difficult and confusing,' she said...

"The Alberta government said that legislative amendments to ensure education continues during public health and states of emergencies will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. 'Additional regulatory amendments will follow, to provide school administrators more clarity and guidance on expectations for learning during emergencies. These would come into force at the same time as the legislative amendments, except for certain sections regarding school authority policies, which would come into effect on Sept. 1, 2025,' reads a statement from the Alberta government. “Further information regarding regulatory changes will be shared following the passage of the legislation.”

Do Alberta's new policies help or harm trans youth? | Power & Politics | CBC News | October 31, 2024:

Alberta legislation on transgender youth, student pronouns and sex education set to become law | CBC News | Andrew Jeffrey:

December 4,2024 - The Education Amendment Act, 2024 [Bill 27], the Health Statutes Amendment Act [Bill 26] and the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act [Bill 29], first announced by Premier Danielle Smith in a provincewide video address in January, are set to become law. National advocacy group Egale Canada and the Alberta-based Skipping Stone Foundation confirmed Wednesday their intent to pursue legal action in response, arguing the legislation violates the constitutional rights of young 2SLGBTQ+ people.

"The changes [under Bill 27] include requiring children under 16 to have parental consent if they want to change their names or pronouns at school. Students who are 16 or 17 won't need permission, but schools will need to let their parents know first. Students would not be able to learn about sex education, gender identity and sexual orientation in school unless their parents have opted in to them receiving that instruction. Any third-party instructional material would need approval from Alberta Education before it is used in the classroom....

"[Bill 26] would also prohibit doctors from treating those under 16 seeking gender-affirming treatment through puberty blockers or hormone therapy. Physicians would be prohibited from performing top and bottom gender surgeries on minors.... Schools would have to inform parents [under Bill 27] when kids ask to change pronouns....

"[Bill 29] would limit membership on female competitive sports teams to athletes who were female at birth. The bill will ban transgender athletes from competing in female amateur sports and require school and organizations to report eligibility complaints. Smith has said the government will work with leagues to set up coed or gender-neutral divisions for sports.

"According to the province, the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act is anticipated to take effect fall 2025, while the amendments to the Education Act will take effect on proclamation, which is anticipated in September 2025. The Health Statutes Amendment Act is expected to come into effect in the coming months....

"The Saskatchewan government used the notwithstanding clause to guard similar legislation. The clause allows a government to temporarily override certain sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Smith said she doesn't believe she'll need to invoke the notwithstanding clause to shield the policies from legal action, and that the legislation will be seen as reasonable and evidence-based. But she declined to say if she would use the clause to keep the laws on the books if the court challenges are successful."

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

ON township fined for not proclaiming Pride Month

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has fined Emo township $10,000 and its mayor $5,000, and ordered the mayor to undergo OHRC training, for voting against a motion to proclaim Pride Month.

Emo, Ontario, municipal office in 2012. Photo by P199. CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Ontario town fined $10,000 for refusing to celebrate pride month | National Post | Tristan Hopper:

November 27, 2024 - ""Emo is a township of about 1,300 people located in the far west of Ontario, along the border with Minnesota. In a decision handed down last week, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario ruled that Emo, its mayor and two of its councillors had violated the Ontario Human Rights Code by refusing to proclaim June as 'Pride Month.' The town was also cited for failing to fly 'an LGBTQ2 rainbow flag,' despite the fact that they don’t have an official flag pole.

"The dispute began in 2020 when the township was approached by the group Borderland Pride with a written request to proclaim June as Pride Month. Attached to the letter was a draft proclamation.... Emo was also asked to fly an 'LGBTQ2 rainbow flag for a week of your choosing.' Borderland Pride then asked Emo to 'email us a copy of your proclamation or resolution once adopted and signed'.... Borderland Pride’s draft proclamation was tabled before a May 2020 meeting of the Emo Township Council, where it was defeated by a vote of three to two.

"The claim of discrimination ultimately hinged on a single line uttered by Emo Mayor Harold McQuaker. When the proclamation came up for consideration, McQuaker was heard to say in a recording of the meeting, 'There’s no flag being flown for the other side of the coin … there’s no flags being flown for the straight people.' As Human Rights Tribunal vice-chair Karen Dawson wrote in her decision, 'I find this remark was demeaning and disparaging of the LGBTQ2 community of which Borderland Pride is a member and therefore constituted discrimination under the Code.' Dawson also ruled that given the 'close proximity” of McQuaker’s comment to his nay vote — that too 'constituted discrimination under the Code'....

"The Human Rights Tribunal ultimately ordered the Township to pay $10,000 to Borderland Pride, and for McQuaker to personally pay them another $5,000.... McQuaker and Emo’s chief administrative officer were also ordered to complete an online course known as 'Human Rights 101' and “provide proof of completion … to Borderland Pride within 30 days.' The course is offered by the Ontario Human Rights Commission....

"In a statement celebrating the decision, Borderland Pride noted that Emo joins both London and Hamilton in the category of Ontario communities that have been 'sanctioned for refusing to adopt proclamations in support of their local Pride organizations.' In 1995, Hamilton Mayor Bob Morrow was fined $5,000 for refusing to proclaim Gay Pride Week. That same year, London, Ont., was similarly fined $10,000 for refusing to officially recognize Pride weekend....

"{A]n April 2024 letter that Borderland Pride sent to Emo on the eve of its Human Rights Tribunal hearing, threaten[ed] an 'impending national public relations tire fire for your council and community' if it went ahead. The township was told they could avoid the hearing only if they apologized, imposed mandatory 'diversity and inclusion' training for council, agreed to undisclosed financial terms, pledged to green-light future Pride proclamations without edits and provide free facilities for a 'charitable drag event … the proceeds of which will support the Emo Public Library.'

"Borderland Pride also said it would return one third of their financial reward to the Emo Public Library, but only if the library hosted a 'drag story time event' on a 'date of our choosing.'

"This is the second time in four months that Borderland Pride has won a five-figure award via legal action. In August, the group won a $35,000 small claims court judgement against a Fort Frances man who wrote a Facebook post saying a Borderland-organized all-ages drag show was a 'pedophile show'.... [A]t the time, Borderland Pride director Douglas Judson outlined his intention to continue imposing 'consequences' on anyone else who attacked them.... ''As a lawyer who does this work that means I’m going to start taking people’s houses and their vehicles and their toys and draining their bank accounts and garnishing their wages because no one is going to stop behaving this way until there are real consequences,” he said."

Canadian town fined $10k for refusing to celebrate Pride Month | Sky News Australia | December 3, 2024:

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Minnesota gov't sends trans rapists to women's prisons

The office of Minnesota governor Tim Walz gave nearly $500,000 to a lobby suing the state to have trans-identified convicts sent to women's prisons.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, 2024. Office of Gov. Tim Walz / Wikimedia Commons.

At Least FIVE Male Inmates Transferred To Minnesota Women’s Prison, Including Two Convicted Pedophiles | Reduxx | Genevieve Gluck:

September 11, 2024 - "A total of five male convicts were transferred to a Minnesota’s women-only prison following the adoption of a gender identity policy by the Department of Corrections in January of 2023. Two of the men who are now being held at MCF-Shakopee, a female correctional center, are sexual predators serving sentences related to the abuse of children.

"Among them are Elijah Thomas Berryman, 26, who was first arrested in April 2022 and accused of sexually abusing a minor multiple times. He pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in March of this year, and according to the Minnesota DOC website, is currently serving his 25-year sentence at the women’s prison.

"Another, Sean Windingland, 35, sexually assaulted two 6-year-old relatives and posted videos of the abuse and grooming on pornography and pro-pedophile websites. Windingland admitted to engaging in sexual contact with the young girls when questioned by investigators, but claimed that the children had consented. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2019. Windingland is now serving his 36-year prison sentence among women at MCF-Shakopee.

"[A] third, Bradley Richard Sirvio, is a convicted murderer who is serving a life sentence. Sirvio, 52, beat a man to death with a hammer before setting his house on fire in November of 1995. A repeat offender, Sirvio... was quietly transferred to MCF-Shakopee in November 2023, a full five months ahead of the date that a newly-drafted gender identity policy was set to take effect.

"The two remaining men confirmed by Reduxx to have been transferred into the women’s prison are Nathan Charles Johnson, ... and a trans-identified male who uses the name Christina Suzanne Lusk, but was born Craig Lusk. In June 2022, Lusk launched a discrimination lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Corrections which ultimately resulted in the implementation of measures permitting male convicts to be housed in the female estate.

"Lusk ... was backed by the trans activist non-profit organization Gender Justice – which was recently revealed to have received nearly $500,000 in taxpayer funds from the administration of Governor Tim Walz. The Democratic vice presidential nominee’s office handed out $448,904 to Gender Justice just one year after the organization filed the sex discrimination complaint against Minnesota’s DOC on behalf of Lusk, according to a review of public records published by the taxpayer watchdog group OpenTheBooks.com.""

Saturday, July 20, 2024

California governor signs gender notification ban

California Governor Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1955, which bans schools from notifying parents when students transition.

Opponents of gender notification ban in California schools promise legal fight | KCRA | Orko Manna:

July 16, 2024 - "Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1955 into law Monday. It prohibits school districts in California from having policies that require teachers or staff to disclose a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression to the student’s parents, without the student’s consent. That includes nonbinary and transgender students. LGBTQ advocates said the law is a good step forward in protecting students....

“'Young people should really be in control of their own destiny and what it is that they’re ready for, in being able to disclose what their identities are to teachers, their peers, to their parents, and so this really puts that kind of control and autonomy back with the students,' Sacramento LGBT Community Center CEO David Heitstuman said. 'It’s super important for young people to be the ones in control of when they disclose and how they disclose, that that’s so important'....

"Sabrina Naves is the president of PFLAG Sacramento, an organization that supports the parents and friends of LGBTQ people. Naves said she is thrilled Gov. Newsom signed AB 1955 into law.... Naves came out as transgender in 2018. While she is the head of an LGBTQ organization now, Naves said when she was younger she was not ready to be open about who she was.... 'I know that if I had been forcibly outed to my parents, that would have definitely been an issue of safety for me,' Naves said....

"However, opponents of the new law said that excluding parents from those conversations is unacceptable. California Family Council, a Christian public policy organization, said the law creates a divide between parents and their children. 'Basic common sense tells us that parents have the ultimate responsibility to protect and defend their children, and we believe that this law not only takes away those parental rights, but it actually will put children in danger,' California Family Council president Jonathan Keller said. 'Children need their parents. A teacher, a school administrator is not a substitute for a mother and a father.'

"'I think we’re going to be looking at all of our legal options,” Keller said. “We absolutely anticipate future legal challenges for this.'

"Assemblymember Bill Essayli, R-Riverside, who opposed the bill as it worked through the legislature, posted on X Monday, vowing to challenge the law in court. He said, in part, 'Governor Newsom signing #AB1955 is both immoral and unconstitutional and we will challenge it in court to stop the government from keeping secrets from parents'....

"Late Tuesday, the Liberty Justice Center announced it had filed a lawsuit challenging the law.

"In the wake of the governor signing AB 1955 into law, billionaire Elon Musk said he is moving the headquarters of SpaceX and social media company X to Texas from California. 'I did make it clear to Governor Newsom about a year ago that laws of this nature would force families and companies to leave California to protect their children,' Musk wrote.

Transgender notification ban signed into law | FOX 11 Los Angeles | July 16, 2024:

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

UK gov't restricts puberty blockers for minors

The British government has stopped the use of puberty blockers to transition under-18s within its National Health Service, and is now temporarily banning them for all prescribers.

Health service in England curtails puberty blockers for minors | CBC News:

March 13, 2024 - "Children in England will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics, according to the country's National Health Service (NHS). In a policy document released Tuesday, the NHS said that following a review of published research, 'we have concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the safety or clinical effectiveness of [puberty suppressing hormones] to make the treatment routinely available at this time.'

"Under the new policy, puberty blockers for those under 18 will only be available as part of research studies. One such study is slated to begin by the end of 2024....

"According to a published report by BBC News, fewer than 100 young people in England are currently prescribed puberty blockers by the NHS. The report said they will all [be] able to continue their treatment.

"The blockers have become a contentious issue in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.... They've been banned for minors in several U.S. states. In Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith ... plans to introduce similar policies. Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has said he does not support trans kids under 18 taking puberty blockers. The Canadian Paediatric Society and Canadian Medical Association have both stated their support of gender-affirming care."

UK Decision to Block Puberty Blockers for Minors Could Impact US | CBN News | March 19, 2024:

New restrictions on puberty blockers | Gov.uk | Department of Health and Social Care:

May 29, 2024 -"The government has today introduced regulations to restrict the prescribing and supply of puberty-suppressing hormones, known as ‘puberty blockers’, to children and young people under 18 in England, Wales and Scotland. The emergency ban will last from 3 June to 3 September 2024.... During this period no new patients under 18 will be prescribed these medicines for the purposes of puberty suppression in those experiencing gender dysphoria or incongruence under the care of these prescribers.

"The NHS stopped the routine prescription of puberty blocker treatments to under-18s following the Cass Review into gender identity services. In addition, the government has also introduced indefinite restrictions to the prescribing of these medicines within NHS primary care in England, in line with NHS guidelines.... This action has been taken to address risks to patient safety.

"Patients already established on these medicines by a UK prescriber for these purposes can continue to access them. They will also remain available for patients receiving the drugs for other uses, from a UK-registered prescriber."

Friday, March 15, 2024

Radio Canada report shows Quebec teens rushed into sex changes

A recent Radio-Canada investigation shows young teens in Quebec with gender dysphoria being fast-tracked into hormone treatment and surgery.

Quebec teens being rushed into gender transitions, CBC investigation finds | True North | Cosmin Dzsurdzsa:

March 7, 2024 - "Young teens in Quebec dealing with gender dysphoria are being rushed into irreversible gender transitions, despite activist claims to the contrary. An investigation by Radio-Canada, CBC’s French language arm, revealed how 14-year-old girls in the province can quickly obtain a prescription for cross sex hormones, without a medical referral or the consent of their parents.... Quebec has no minimum age for gender transitions, although trans-identified patients must wait until they are 16 to get double mastectomies and 18 to get genital surgery. From 14 and onward, parental consent is not required for one to be prescribed puberty blockers and hormones.

"Radio-Canada sent a young 14-year-old actress with a hidden camera into a private gender clinic to test the system. She received a prescription in minutes. This teen was able to get her prescription without the presence of her parents or a referral from a doctor, psychologist or therapist. The girl was asked to review a form containing all the side effects of medical transition, before then seeing a doctor. The girl told the doctor that she was diagnosed with an eating disorder and became convinced she was born in the wrong body after watching videos on the internet....

"[T]he doctor proceeded to ask the teen if her parents supported her transitioning, and if she had considered surgery, '(like a) mastectomy, removing the chest.' The doctor also asked the child if she wanted to preserve her fertility. 'I understand that it’s a bit far off for you, at 14… Is fertility something you want to preserve before you start?' 'Er… no. I always knew I didn’t want children,' replied the girl, to which the doctor said “okay.' After just nine minutes, the girl was given a prescription for cross sex hormones.... When asked by Radio-Canada to comment, the doctor said, 'a medical consultation is not evaluated in terms of duration, but rather in terms of the quality of the exchange of information between the patient and the healthcare professional'....

"Multiple detransitioners from Quebec said they feel they were rushed into irreversible transitions.... The first detransitioner, a 24-year-old woman who used the pseudonym Clara, said she dealt with fragile mental health as well as self-esteem issues as a teenager. She was exposed to gender ideology on social media site Tumblr, and was subsequently encouraged to transition by a 'gender-affirming” psychologist..... 'Clara’s' parents were told to begin transitioning their daughter right away, as otherwise, she may commit suicide.... At 15, 'Clara' was placed on puberty blockers and then cross sex hormones. She then received a double mastectomy at 17.... She has since detransitioned and is living as a woman, but with permanent changes to her body....

"Jane Rocheleau-Matte ... another detransitioner featured in the report investigation ... explained that she was a tomboy as a teenager, and discovered gender ideology on streaming platform Twitch during the pandemic and thought it was 'something that resonates with me, a girl who thinks she’s more masculine.' At 16, she began taking cross sex hormones, and soon after, was green lit for a double mastectomy..... Rocheleau-Matte says she began having regrets the moment she took off her bandages. But as she would find out, detransitioning is harder than transitioning. 'They told me I had to wait two or three years and have psychological follow-up for over a year,' she said. Rocheleau-Matte found this surprising because 'before they removed my breasts, they didn’t ask me for psychological follow-up....

"Like other jurisdictions, Quebec is seeing dramatic increases in child transitions amid gender ideology being rampant in schools and on social media. Approximately 1100 gender dysphoric teens are currently being treated in the province’s two main gender clinics. The number of girls between the ages of 14 and 17 being prescribed testosterone increased by 870% in 10 years.... 18 Quebec girls had their breasts removed in 2023, and while that number may be small, there were no double mastectomies performed on minors in 2017.

"Reactions from the trans community were mixed.... Michelle Blanc, one of the most well-known transgender women in Quebec, said in aninterview with CHOI Radio X she was 'profoundly shocked' by what she saw. 'We have gone from it being hard to change genders to it being too easy,' said Blanc, who added that 'ideology must leave therapy.'

"Beatrice Robichau, a prominent Quebec transgender business woman, told Radio X that while she was disappointed that the documentary made it seem like the majority of teen transitions end in regret, she also believes the a hormone presription after a nine-minute consultation is unreasonable. Robichau wants the College of Physicians to get involved and reprimand doctors who rush kids into transition without following proper protocols.

"Left-wing trans activist Celeste Trianon meanwhile accused Radio-Canada of 'platforming junk science,' claiming that 'by further platforming anti-trans junk science, Radio-Canada is granting a voice of authority to these bad faith actors who are attempting to erase us, to dehumanize us, to eliminate us from public life.'"

Radio-Canada report (in French): https://ici.radio-canada.ca/recit-numerique/8610/transition-genre-testoterone-choix-dysphorie-sante-mentale

The authoritarian left is not happy with the CBC | True North: Candace Malcolm Show | March 7, 2024:

Friday, February 23, 2024

Alberta town votes to remove its Pride crosswalk

The town of Westlock, Alberta, will lose its seven-months-old Pride-colored crosswalk, and its Pride flags this summer, following a plebiscite that passed with less than 51% in favor. The full story ...

Pride Month a success for Alberta towns this year, despite an increase in backlash | CBC News Edmonton | Ariel Fournier:
July 4, 2023 - "On a sunny evening last week, a crowd of revellers celebrating Pride Month in Westlock, Alta., painted a rainbow crosswalk for the first time in the town's history. Despite some worries that the event could be disrupted by protests, it went off without a hitch....

"The crosswalk project had been proposed by the Thunder Alliance, a group that supports members of the LGBTQ community at R.F. Staples Secondary School in the town 90 kilometres north of Edmonton [Alberta's capital]. In May, councillors voted unanimously to support painting the crosswalk on 106th Street, between Westlock's town hall and the Royal Canadian Legion. But at a council meeting June 12, some people showed up to voice angry objections....

"'We did receive a lot more pushback than we anticipated,' Heidi Mills, a school social worker and a lead teacher with the Thunder Alliance, said at the crosswalk-painting event. 'Despite all of the hate that we've received, look at this crowd,' she said, gesturing to the group of more than 200 people. 'It's giving me goosebumps right now.'"
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-pride-backlash-towns-1.6895610

Alberta town proposes bylaw to restrict Pride flags, crosswalks | Western Standard | Jen Hodgson:
November 29, 2023 - "The Westlock, AB city council has moved to restrict Pride flags and crosswalks in favour of displaying only municipal, provincial and federal insignia. The crosswalks and sidewalks would return to simple white paint on grey pavement. On Monday, Westlock town council decided to let the residents vote on the potential bylaw, which will take place in February.

"The decision came after a group of residents brought a petition to council in September decrying the Pride colours painted on town infrastructure, which was done in June by the 'gay-straight alliance' at local high school R.F. Staples Secondary. The painting initiative was endorsed by city officials at the time. Deputy Mayor Murtaza Jamaly told CTV News they 'thought it was a great opportunity to demonstrate we are an inclusive and welcoming community'....

"At the council meeting Monday, Jamaly said roughly 10% of the town's population, which is 4,921 people, signed the petition.... 'There wasn't a way that we could find ourselves passing that at council's table,' he said. 'Therefore under the legislative process, it goes to a plebiscite vote.'"
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/alberta-town-proposes-bylaw-to-restrict-pride-flags-crosswalks/50618

Town north of Edmonton could ban Pride crosswalks, flags | CityNews | November 28, 2023:

Irwin demands Westlock support Pride flags, crosswalks | Western Standard | Jonathan Bradley:
November 30, 2023 - "Alberta NDP MLA Janis Irwin (Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood) said Westlock, AB, needs to keep allowing Pride flags and rainbow crosswalks. 'Banning a Pride flag or rainbow crosswalk won’t make queer and trans people go away,' tweeted Irwin on Wednesday. 'But it will send a message that they’re less safe to be who they are in your community.' Irwin went on to say she remembers the day Westlock painted a rainbow crosswalk and how powerful it was to see people uniting....

"Stonewall Riots survivor Fred Sargeant said there 'are absurd tweets and then there's laughably absurd tweets.... No one is less safe because a distracting crosswalk is gone,' said Sargeant.... Queens’ Speech host Clive Simpson called Irwin 'f*cking ridiculous.' 'Some of us managed to survive the times when there were NO RAINBOW FLAGS ANYWHERE,' said Simpson."
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/irwin-demands-westlock-support-pride-flags-crosswalks/50646

Trudeau says Poilievre waging culture war with gender ideology | Western Standard | Jonathan Bradley:
February 22, 2024 - "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and conservative politicians of attacking transgender people to deflect from their success at creating division, anger and toxicity. 'They’re quick with slogans and buzzwords and culture wars,' said Trudeau at a Wednesday press conference in Edmonton. 'But they’re not doing the work of actually rolling up their sleeves and delivering 330 housing units here.'”
Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/alberta/watch-trudeau-says-poilievre-waging-culture-war-with-gender-ideology/52624

BREAKING: Westlock votes to ban Pride crosswalks, other flags by 24 votes | Town and Country Today | Kristine Jean:
February 22, 2024 - "Westlock residents have voted to ban Pride crosswalks and allow the town to only fly flags representative of the municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Hundreds of local citizens went to the polls Thurs. Feb. 22 and voted to support bylaw 2023-14 in a plebiscite.... A total of 663 residents voted yes to ban Pride crosswalks and flags, while a total of 639 residents voted no to the bylaw, a difference of just 24 votes....

"Westlock Mayor Jon Kramer said in a press release that council did not support the proposed bylaw and felt it went against council's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 'This plebiscite is binding, and as such, the bylaw does restrict how we are able to show this commitment. However, we will continue to find ways to embrace those in our community who need a helping hand, including marginalized groups..... That won’t stop, it will just take on a different form. We know the Town of Westlock is a welcoming community and that will not change.'"
Read more: https://www.townandcountrytoday.com/westlock-news/breaking-westlock-votes-to-ban-pride-crosswalks-other-flags-by-24-votes-8345490

Sunday, February 11, 2024

The unsettled science of trans puberty blockers

This month the Alberta government announced it would restrict the use of puberty blockers to children 16 or over, sparking controversy. Their use on younger children has been controversial in the world scientific community as well.

They Paused Puberty, but Is There a Cost? | New York Times | Megan Twohey & Christina Jewett:

November 14, 2022- "As the number of adolescents who identify as transgender grows, drugs known as puberty blockers have become the first line of intervention for the youngest ones seeking medical treatment. Their use is typically framed as a safe — and reversible — way to buy time to weigh a medical transition and avoid the anguish of growing into a body that feels wrong.... But as an increasing number of adolescents identify as transgender — in the United States, an estimated 300,000 ages 13 to 17 and an untold number who are younger — concerns are growing among some medical professionals about the consequences of the drugs, a New York Times examination found. The questions are fueling government reviews in Europe, prompting a push for more research and leading some prominent specialists to reconsider at what age to prescribe them and for how long. A small number of doctors won’t recommend them at all.

"Dutch doctors first offered puberty blockers to transgender adolescents three decades ago, typically following up with hormone treatment.... Since then, the practice has spread to other countries, with varying protocols, little documentation of outcomes and no government approval of the drugs for that use, including by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But there is emerging evidence of potential harm from using blockers, according to reviews of scientific papers and interviews with more than 50 doctors and academic experts around the world....

"The drugs suppress estrogen and testosterone, hormones that help develop the reproductive system but also affect the bones, the brain and other parts of the body. During puberty, bone mass typically surges, determining a lifetime of bone health. When adolescents are using blockers, bone density growth flatlines, on average, according to an analysis commissioned by The Times of observational studies examining the effects. Many doctors treating trans patients believe they will recover that loss when they go off blockers. But two studies from the analysis that tracked trans patients’ bone strength while using blockers and through the first years of sex hormone treatment found that many do not fully rebound and lag behind their peers. That could lead to heightened risk of debilitating fractures earlier than would be expected from normal aging — in their 50s instead of 60s — and more immediate harm for patients who start treatment with already weak bones, experts say.....

"Many physicians in the United States and elsewhere are prescribing blockers to patients at the first stage of puberty — as early as age 8 — and allowing them to progress to sex hormones as soon as 12 or 13. Starting treatment at young ages, they believe, helps patients become better aligned physically with their gender identity and helps protect their bones. But that could force life-altering choices, other doctors warn, before patients know who they really are. Puberty can help clarify gender, the doctors say — for some adolescents reinforcing their sex at birth, and for others confirming that they are transgender.

“'The most difficult question is whether puberty blockers do indeed provide valuable time for children and young people to consider their options, or whether they effectively "lock in" children and young people to a treatment pathway,' wrote Dr. Hilary Cass, a pediatrician leading an independent review in England of medical treatments of adolescents presenting as transgender. On her recommendation, England’s National Health Service last month proposed restricting use of the drugs for trans youths to research settings [see video]. Sweden and Finland have also placed limits on the treatment, concerned not just with the risk of blockers, but the steep rise in young patients, the psychiatric issues that many exhibit, and the extent to which their mental health should be assessed before treatment....

"[I]t’s increasingly clear that the drugs are associated with deficits in bone development. During the teen years, bone density typically surges by about 8 to 12 percent a year. The analysis commissioned by The Times examined seven studies from the Netherlands, Canada and England involving about 500 transgender teens from 1998 through 2021. Researchers observed that while on blockers, the teens did not gain any bone density, on average — and lost significant ground compared to their peers, according to the analysis by Farid Foroutan, an expert on health research methods at McMaster University in Canada....

"Many doctors caring for young trans patients are reassured by the rebounds seen in the children who take blockers for unusually early puberty. In most cases, their bone strength fully recovers after they stop the drugs at about age 11 and resume full puberty, which can last up to five years. But patients identifying as trans take the drugs later, interrupting their normally timed puberty and limiting that crucial period of development....

"So far, only two small studies, published by Dutch doctors, have tracked the bone development of trans patients from beginning blockers through early hormone treatment. In both studies, dozens of patients started blockers at 14 or 15, on average, and began estrogen or testosterone at 16. The participants, followed in one study through age 18, and in the other through age 22, saw their bones strengthen, on average, once on hormones. Still, most patients continued to lag behind their peers; trans men neared average levels, but trans women fell far below."

"It Will Be One Of The Biggest Medical Scandals!" Julia Hartley-Brewer On Trans Puberty Blockers Ban | TalkTV | June 12, 2023:

Friday, February 2, 2024

Alberta gov't bans sex-change surgery for < 18s

Danielle Smith unveils sweeping changes to Alberta's student gender identity, sports and surgery policies | CBC News | Michelle Bellefontaine

Jan 31, 2024 - "Alberta will prohibit hormonal treatment, puberty blockers and gender affirming surgery for children 15 years and younger, Premier Danielle Smith announced Wednesday in a video posted to social media. Top and bottom gender reassignment surgeries will be banned for minors aged 17.... Teens aged 16 and 17 can start hormone therapy as long as they have permission from their parents, a physician and a psychologist.

"Alberta parents will need to give permission before a student aged 15 and under can use a name or pronoun at school other than what they were given at birth, Smith said. Students who are 16 or 17 won't require permission but schools will need to let their parents know first....

"Smith said teachers need to get any third-party instruction material on gender identity, sexual orientation and human sexuality approved by the Education ministry before they are used in the classroom.

"Parents will have to opt students in to every lesson about sex education, sexual orientation or gender identity. The law right now requires one notification, and parents can opt out.

"The new policy also forbids transgender women from competing in women's sports leagues. Smith said the government will work with leagues to set up co-ed or gender-neutral divisions for sports....

"Smith said she didn't want to encourage or allow children to alter their biology or growth because she said it would pose a risk. 'Making permanent and irreversible decisions regarding one's biological sex while still a youth can severely limit that child's choices in the future,' she said. 'Prematurely encouraging or enabling children to alter their very biology or natural growth, no matter how well intentioned and sincere, poses a risk to that child's future that I, as premier, am not comfortable with permitting in our province.'

"Fae Johnstone, a transgender woman and executive director of Queer Momentum based in Ontario, said Alberta's policies go further than what Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are doing. The Saskatchewan Party government passed its Parents' Bill of Rights, which requires consent from a parent or guardian 'when a student requests that their preferred name, gender identity, and/or gender expression be used' at school. New Brunswick's recent changes to its policy mean it's no longer mandatory for teachers to use the preferred pronouns or names of transgender or non-binary students under the age of 16."

Alberta Transgender Policy | Danielle Smith | January 31, 2023:

Friday, January 12, 2024

Trudeau gov't mandates tampons in men's rooms

Canada's Trudeau gov't has mandated that free menstrual products be provided in the men's rooms of all federally-regulated buildings.

Trudeau Government puts tampons in men’s bathrooms | The Counter Signal | Mike Campbell:

December 13, 2023 - "The Trudeau Liberals have placed tampons in men’s bathrooms in all federally regulated buildings. Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri showcased the latest development in a video she posted on social media.... Ferreri focused on how out of touch the issue is based on the cost of living crisis, as opposed to the painfully obvious fact that men don’t need period products.

"'So for people who have an average income of $70,000, they are going to have access to period products — shouldn’t that be going to people who can’t afford them?' She added, 'I might just take some of these myself and walk them down to the Ottawa food bank where they can be best used — not here'....

"[T]he Trudeau Government made a regulatory proposal in 2022 that said a 'lack of access to menstrual products in men’s toilet room has raised concerns regarding washroom equity.' The proposal stipulated that employers must provide menstrual products in each toilet room. One product dispenser is needed for each washroom, 'regardless of gender,' across all work sites under the control of large business employers in the federal jurisdiction....

"[T]he government estimated the total cost of the regulations would be $116.6 million from 2024 to 2033. That includes estimates for how much it would cost employers to purchase the products and provide and install containers for their disposal.

As an aside, ... a petition calling for a no confidence vote in the Trudeau government has reached over 287,000 signatures, surpassing the most signed e-petition in parliamentary history."

Tampons in Federal Mens Washrooms | Canadian Freedom, Right? | December 13, 2023:

Canadian Air Force members rip down tampon dispenser in men’s bathroom | The Counter Signal:

January 10, 2024 -"A picture has surfaced on social media showing a ripped down tampon dispenser in a Canadian Air Force men’s bathroom. Social media account Veterans 4 Freedom (@Vets4FreeCanada) posted a picture showing the development....

"'Sent to us from [Canadian Forces Base] Trenton. This is a picture of a men’s washroom, think maybe the Troops are tired of being humiliated by the woke nonsense?' the account posted, attaching a picture that showed a number of holes in the wall where the dispenser used to stand.

"The incident comes ... after the Trudeau Liberals mandated that tampons be placed in men’s bathrooms in all federally regulated buildings, a move that earned international headlines and mockery. The federal Liberals 2022 budget for Canadian Armed Forces had funding for such, given that they included $100.5 million for 'gender identity' culture change and training in the Canadian Armed Forces."

Friday, January 5, 2024

BC dad fights gag order re child's gender transition

A British Columbia father who was fined and imprisoned for breaking a court order against talking about his minor child's gender transition (which he had opposed) is going to court to have the order lifted.

BC father who tried to stop child's gender transition fights to make his name public | Western Standard | Lee Harding:

January 5, 2024 - "The BC father who went to court to try to stop his child’s gender transition is returning to the courts to allow his name to be made public. CD, as he was known in court documents, was sentenced to six months in prison and a $30,000 fine for breaking the court order preventing public dissemination of information about the case [see video]. The fine was lifted upon appeal and time served was deemed sufficient.

"A publication ban remains in effect in Canada, preventing anyone from calling CD by his real name. The doctors involved in the female-to-male transition of his child had their names concealed, allegedly to protect them from reprisals.

"In an email blast, former MP and Conservative Party leadership candidate Derek Sloan called CD’s legal journey 'a travesty of justice.' He launched a fundraising campaign to help CD go public once again.... 'Now he wants to go after the gag order forcing him to live an anonymous life,' ... Sloan wrote in an email blast. 'He deserves the right to talk about his experience, he deserves the right to have a real existence, unencumbered by draconian rules that could place him back in jail if he slips up on an interview or speaks out publicly about his experience'....

"James Kitchen, who was involved in the case early on as a lawyer for the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, is taking on CD’s cause once again. 'It's really a travesty that we can't even mention his name. It just goes to show how far the laws have come in Canada in the last half a decade. But what we need to do is take legal action,' said Kitchen in an online interview with Sloan. Because the child involved in the case is now an adult, Kitchen believes little reason remains to keep CD anonymous....

"'It's one thing to be censored so that you can't speak, but then to not even be able to … [use] your name and show your face is a whole other level. It really, really concerns me and disgusts me, and it should everybody, if you care at all, about what it means to live in a society worth living in,' Kitchen said. 'I don't care who the person is, I don't care what the situation is'....However, Kitchen also sympathized with CD’s personal cause to end the gender transitions of minors....

"Sloan said donations could be given by e-transfer to fundingthefight@proton.me with the password “freedom” and “CD” in the memo."

Canadian Father Jailed for Speaking Out Against Biological Daughter’s Gender Transition | CBN News | March 22, 2021:

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Ex-teacher can sue school board, Ont. judge rules

An Ontario Superior Court judge has ruled that a former Waterloo teacher, who was suspended and investigated after her local School Board accused her of violating the province's Human Rights Code, can sue the Board for defamation.

Ex-teacher silenced for book views can proceed with lawsuit against Waterloo region board after court ruling | CBC News | Kate Bueckert:

November 27, 2023 - "A defamation case by a retired teacher who was removed from a 2022 meeting for speaking on the age appropriateness of books can now proceed against the Waterloo Region District School Board following an Ontario judge's ruling. On Thursday, Superior Court Justice J.A. Ramsay dismissed a motion by the board's lawyers to throw out the $1.75-million lawsuit by Carolyn Burjoski, a former English as a second language teacher. The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) and former chair Scott Piatkowski are named as defendants. 'I am deeply relieved and grateful for this ruling. It is a significant victory and vindication, not just for me, but for everyone who dares to voice their valid concerns publicly,' Burjoski said in an emailed statement to media and supporters.

"Burjoski's lawsuit, launched in April 2022, stems from a Jan. 17 school board trustee meeting that year when she appeared as a delegation. Burjoski expressed her concern with the appropriateness of certain books in elementary school libraries. She gave two examples: A book that centred on an asexual character, and one about a transgender character. Her statement of claim says she spoke out about the books because she was worried they 'could put pressure on kids to start thinking sexually before they are ready to do so.'

"Piatkowski stopped Burjoski's delegation during the meeting because he said he had concerns what she was saying violated the Ontario Human Rights Code. Other trustees upheld that decision in a vote. 'I felt that the delegate was erasing the existence of trans people, that they were essentially questioning whether people who identify as trans or non-binary had a right to exist, and really that was the fundamental issue,' Piatkowski told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo at the time....

"After the meeting, Burjoski alleged in her statement of claim that Piatkowski gave 'false and defamatory statements' in local media and on social media. She also alleged the school board made defamatory statements in a message sent to staff and another posted to the board's website after the meeting. The statement of defence says Piatkowski's comments in the meeting, to media and on social media were 'entirely appropriate'....

"Burjoski has alleged she has faced repercussions since that meeting, including being suspended from work, and being banned from communicating with colleagues and students. She also said a formal complaint was launched that led to a disciplinary investigation. In her statement of claim, she said she became the centre of an 'international news story' where she was unfairly described as transphobic and discriminatory because of \Piatkowski and WRDSB's conduct and their false and malicious statements.' She said she has experienced stress, which led to her being hospitalized for anxiety....

"In his ruling, Ramsay said Burjoski's claims 'have substantial merit' and the 'comments of the board's agents were defamatory.' 'For example, they accused her of breaching the Human Rights Code, questioning the right of trans persons to exist and engaging in speech that included hate. She did not do any of those things,' Ramsay wrote.... Ramsay ordered the school board to pay $30,000 of Burjoski's legal fees in relation to this motion.... 'What happened here should not happen in a democratic society,' the judge wrote.

"In an email, the school board said it is reviewing the judge's decision, but 'as this matter remains before the courts, the board will not be commenting further.'

"Burjoski said the judge's decision shows the Human Rights Code 'does not prohibit public discussion.' 'I hope this decision sends a strong message to school boards that the weaponization of human rights codes against concerned citizens is an undemocratic abuse of the code,' Burjoski's statement said."

Silenced teacher, Carolyn Burjoski, is taking the school board to court | Stories of Brave Canadians | Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms | May 29, 2023:

Monday, October 23, 2023

Parents' Bill of Rights now law in Saskatchewan

"Parents' Bill Of Rights" Passed And Enshrined In Legislation | Government of Saskatchewan (press release):

October 20, 2023 -"The Government of Saskatchewan has passed the "Parents' Bill of Rights" and invoked the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This protects the important role that parents and guardians have in supporting their children. The notwithstanding clause is part of the Constitution of Canada and allows federal and provincial governments to enact legislation that operates notwithstanding certain provisions of the Charter.

"'Parents and guardians have a right to know what is being taught in their children's school,' Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. '"The Parents' Bill of Rights" is an inclusionary policy that ensures that parents are at the forefront of every important decision in their child's life.'

"The Bill passed today invokes section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to entrench in law key elements of the parental inclusion and consent policies announced on August 22, 2023. It will permit the legislation to operate without interruption.

"The passing of this Bill provides parents with assurance and confidence that they will be involved in the important decisions involving their children no matter where they go to school in Saskatchewan. The Bill has received royal assent and is now in force."

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2023/october/20/parents-bill-of-rights-passed-and-enshrined-in-legislation

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on passage of parents’ rights bill |cpac | October 20, 2023:

Monday, October 16, 2023

Saskatchewan gov't tables Parents' Bill of Rights

Sask. Parental Bill of Rights introduced, notwithstanding clause to be invoked | CBC News | Adam Hunter:

October 13, 2023 - "The Saskatchewan government introduced Bill 137, the Parental Bill of Rights, on Thursday morning, moving ahead with its plan to invoke the notwithstanding clause to protect a controversial new policy dictating how schools deal with gender-diverse students.

"'Parents should always be involved in important decisions involving their children,' said Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill. 'The parental inclusion and consent policy introduced in August and now this new legislation we are introducing today will ensure that continues to be the case.' Cockrill said the legislation 'provides clarity that the policy will remain in place.'

"Once passed, the law will require schools to receive consent from parents to use a child's gender-related preferred name or gender identity if they are under 16. The bill also says that if a child feels they will suffer physical, emotional or mental harm from the school seeking consent, the principal will direct the child to school support staff to develop a plan to eventually tell their parent. The government said the amendments are meant to keep parents informed and will support students....

"Opposition house leader and justice critic Nicole Sarauer spoke in the house for two hours following question period. She spoke against a government motion to double the maximum debate on the bill over the next week from 20 hours to 40. Sarauer was critical of the government's claim the bill can be scrutinized properly in a week.... 'To call that extra time, extra scrutiny, is an absolute joke and a farce, and it's slap in the face to democracy in this province. Especially when we're talking about a piece of legislation that's going to use the notwithstanding clause to trample on the rights of Saskatchewan children,' she said....

"Cockrill was asked if he was comfortable overriding the rights of children with this legislation. 'I think over the next number of days we're going to get into a debate on the collision of rights and how the notwithstanding clause addresses that. I know I'm comfortable with the legislation that's been introduced today and how that will play out,' he said.

Government and Opposition MLAs will return on Monday. It is expected that extended hours that will have the house sit from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. CST could start Tuesday and run until the following Sunday. Premier Scott Moe had called the legislature back early to introduce the new legislation before the fall sitting starts on Oct. 25.... Moe told reporters on Tuesday his government called an emergency session to introduce and eventually pass the bill in order to protect the policy from court challenges.

"'With respect to the notwithstanding clause itself, that is part of the Charter and it was put in place so that elected members in the future would be able to determine which of those rights ultimately would be in place moving forward. And that is ultimately why it is being utilized here,' Moe said."

Federal justice minister reacts to Saskatchewan’s plan to use notwithstanding clause | CPAC | October 5, 2023:

Friday, October 6, 2023

Ottawa police taze "Save the Children" protester

Ottawa police were armed with tazers to control protesters at Thursday's "Save the Children convoy" event on Parliament Hill.

This convoy to Parliament had no trucks or horns but did have electric shocks | Toronto Sun | Joe Warmington:

October 5, 2023 - "Another convoy protest to Parliament Hill and another strong use-of-force response by Ottawa Police. This time it was a 'Save the Children' event in protest of gender ideology in schools. This time there were no trucks, honking horns, police horses or Emergencies Act declaration. But there was what witnesses described as a 'Taser' — technically referred to as a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) — not used to subdue just one person under arrest, but also pointed at the crowd ... late in the afternoon on Oct. 4, 2023....

Still fromToronto Sun video

"This was a man described as a 54-year-old man, in shorts and a T-shirt, among a couple of dozen protesters. He was arrested and taken to the ground being struck with the CEW wire and then, while face down on the road, the device was put to his back, and you can hear the electrical charge coming from the hand-held device that has the appearance of a gun. Soon after, the officer lifted the CEW, trained on those nearby, and pointed it at horrified witnesses – one of whom was the man’s wife.

"'Back up, back up,' you can hear the angered officer saying as he pointed the use-of-force option from one person to another. It had a frantic, surreal and out-of-control situation feel to it just below the Prime Minister’s Office on Wellington Street – 19-months removed from the Freedom Convoy protest on this same spot.

"There is video showing the officer’s knee on the man’s side and back while administering the CEW as they were handcuffing him. A second officer at one point put his hands on his neck. 'He can’t breathe!' you can hear the man’s wife screaming. 'He had a heart attack twice. Don’t do that.'

"Social media posts later indicated he was back home and, despite showing marks the CEW allegedly left on his skin, he did not seem to be severely hurt — even though while on the escort to the car the officer and man slipped and fell on what appeared to be wet pavement. Another officer was seen to take out his CEW device while encouraging people to retreat. A second person, who does not appear to have been involved in the slipping incident, is seen to have been handcuffed....

"It is not clear from the video what precipitated the original arrest, or the others which earlier included an older female. But ... no one was held in custody. On X (formerly Twitter), Ottawa Police posted they 'were on scene in the area of Parliament Hill to ensure public safety was maintained during a demonstration' and 'some protesters were using large speakers and loud hailers in contravention of bylaws.' Ottawa Police said that 'after various interactions with police, three people were arrested for obstruction and later released on conditions'....

"Ottawa Police have yet to comment further. It is important to hear their perspective. There is nothing easy about being a police officer in general and especially in a situation like that. It’s also appropriate for police to review responses to ensure something can be learned. The best strategy is always de-escalation, and the best outcome is no one harmed....

"In Ottawa during the [Freedom Convoy], Rebel News reporter Alexa Lavoie was struck with a cannister from a crowd-controlling tear–gas gun and 4-foot-10, 78-year-old great-grandfather and retired school custodian Gerry Charlebois was physically arrested following an incident where an officer felt he had violated Ottawa’s no-honking bylaw. Now 80, Charlebois, who had his charges recently withdrawn by the Crown, was not protesting but offering support for a trucker.

"But protesting is a Charter right. Demonstrators are taxpayers and human beings just as vital to the country as elected officials or authority figures. With Canadians finding themselves shot, taken down violently or hit with an electrical charge, sometimes government needs to be reminded of that."

UPDATE: The Toronto Sun has posted a video of the incident on their YouTube channel. YouTube has left it up, but it cannot be embedded.

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