A resolution to debate whether or not the Ontario PC Party should recognize gender identity has Windsor-Essex Transgender and Allied Support pushing back.
Tories passed the resolution early Saturday morning at the party's convention in Toronto — it calls gender identity a "controversial, unscientific, liberal ideology" that shouldn't be taught or recognized as part of school curriculums in Ontario.
Even a call for debate is still alarming, according to WE Trans Executive Director Jayce Carver.
"After the rollback of the sex education curriculum to 1998, and now the announcement that they're going to be visiting this in 2019, in that narrative, it's not a far stretch to believe this is actually the way that the PC government is going to be moving and that's scary for our community," says Carver, who points out transgendered Canadians weren't recognized federally until 2017.
She says even bringing forward the idea of removing those rights from schools is sending a message to young people across the province.
"Youth look to adults to set the tone on how they behave. When our government introduces transphobic rhetoric into their policy then it's okay for the community at large to start to be transphobic again," says Carver. "It's a huge step backwards in how our society was moving."
She says the transgender community still has a 43% suicide-rate despite drastic changes since 2011 and even the thought of moving backwards could create a hostile environment for Ontario's youth.
"Trans identities are valid identities and are protected under the law," she says. "Now we're removing these identities from schools, which should be safe spaces for kids."
She says the NDP opposition has reached out to WE Trans to offer support in fighting any transphobic policy changes.
A statement from NDP MPP Marit Styles says the transgender community is already stigmatized and, "The Ford Conservatives are debating things that should not be up for debate."
Premier Doug Ford said Monday the propoosed policy would not be moving forward.