Canadians, in crucial moment, must decide on equality for all: LGBTQ advocate

Parade grand marshal Fae Johnstone calls out chants through a megaphone during the Capital Pride Parade in Ottawa on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023.

Canada has reached a critical juncture where it must decide if it will be a country of equality and human rights or fall prey to politically charged division, say advocates for the LGBTQ+ community.

Fae Johnstone, executive director of Queer Momentum, says that Canadians need to reject social media-fuelled polarization in favour of open, honest dialogue with a queer community that feels under attack.

“Canada’s going to have to decide,” Johnstone said in an interview from Halifax on Sunday.

“Are we going to be a bastion of human rights, a free society that welcomes dialogue and protects minorities? Or, are we gonna go the Trumpian route?”

Johnstone and other advocates from across Canada, who were speaking on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, said the country’s leaders need to push back against discrimination.

All three of the advocates said Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to do more to speak up for queer and trans rights as other levels of government attack those freedoms.

“He has not given these issues the time and attention that they deserve and and that is a deep concern,” Johnstone said of Carney. She added that he can tackle both economic and social issues at the time.

Rechie Valdez, the Liberal government’s gender equality minister, said in a statement that all Canadians deserve “the freedom to live a safe and healthy life, regardless of who they are or who they love.”

“The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia is an opportunity to challenge the fears and biases that contribute to stigma and discrimination faced by 2SLGBTQI+ people.”

Valdez noted the federal Liberal government is providing over $54 million over five years for the LGBTQ+ community, including money to assist Pride events with rising security costs caused by rising hate.

“Treating each other with dignity and respect, regardless of gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation, helps build a country where all Canadians can participate as their true selves,” she added.

Transgender advocate Victoria Bucholtz says Alberta government’s recent changes to laws affecting transgender people was a “first round” of discrimination that should serve as a warning for the rest of the country.

The ruling United Conservatives have passed bills that restrict access to gender-affirming care for youth under 16, ban transgender women from competing in amateur female sports and require parental consent for students under 16 to change their names or pronouns at school.

Premier Danielle Smith says these and other rules are necessary to protect children from making life-altering decisions before they are older, preserve fairness in athletics and back the role of parents and guardians.

Bucholtz, executive director of Trans Action Alberta, says the LGBTQ+ community has been left targeted and fearful of a government they say is using them as a scapegoat.

“This was them putting a toe in the waters of discrimination,” Bucholtz said of the Smith government.

“They targeted a small demographic of the population, a population that maybe is a little new or different from what people have experienced in the past, and they have tapped into a vein of vilification and stigmatization of this population, the trans community.”

Bucholtz said the transgender laws were a “test case” to restrict the rights of minorities and that, unchallenged, could be a trend that “rips apart the fabric of Canadian society.”

But, said Bucholtz, the LGBTQ+ community and their allies should remain hopeful.

“I look forward to a complete comprehensive bill of transgender rights where people can change their name and pronouns and get the health care they deserve without harassment or fear from repression.”

Amid Canada’s sharp political divisions are young queer Canadians dealing with social isolation and growing anxiety over their futures, according to the operator of an LGBTQ+ youth hotline.

Lauren Pragg, executive director of LGBT YouthLine in Ontario, said LGBTQ+ communities aren’t separate from the rest of the Canadians facing the rising cost of living and mental health challenges.

“Our sexual and gender identities may just amplify and make more complex some of the challenges that other people also face who are not a part of our communities,” Pragg said.

“But the point is to address the root causes. Everybody should have the ability to have free, dignified, supportive, welcoming lives.”

Fae, a national advocate for transgender rights, said a cross-country tour she’s helping to run this summer is one of the ways she’s hoping to cross the divide.

For example, she said, the Trans Canada Tour will include “ask a trans person anything” events so people have the opportunity to ask tough questions and learn more about people who are transgender.

“That’s the kind of dialog we need today … getting out of this social media ecosystem and back into chats with people in their communities."

As for the inflection point the country faces, Fae says she has hope Canada will choose the right path forward.

“I say sometimes there’s two wolves inside of me,” she said.

“One is full of hope and optimism, the other is cynical and scared. And I think that the hopeful wolf is gonna win it.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2026.

Eli Ridder, The Canadian Press