The inauguration of Donald Trump has come with many policy changes and decisions that will affect Canada.
The 47th President of the United States began his term by rescinding protective orders that shield the rights of queer Americans, stating on his first day of office: “It will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
The anxiety from these decisions have spread north as queer Canadians begin to worry about the influence of American politics on Canada’s federal government.
“It makes me very sad that we’re having to have this conversation … I think that we’re dealing with a much broader movement backwards,” says Kathleen Wynne, former premier of Ontario.
Wynne, who understands queer issues from a political lens as well as her own lived experience as a lesbian, does not want to go back to a world where people live in fear and where they don’t feel they can be themselves.
“This is a clear and present reality. What’s going to happen is more people will go into the closet because they are afraid. That means there will be people who will be more at risk,” says Wynne.
This problem is not only being observed at a provincial level, but at a local level within the Durham Region.
Jason Allman, president of Club 717, a queer space in Durham, has seen differences in the region as a result of these American policy changes.
“We’ve seen more protests, misinformation and attempts to restrict 2SLGBTQIA+ education. There’s a direct connection between rising U.S. anti-queer rhetoric and the backlash we’re experiencing locally,” he says.
Allman, who is also president of the Durham Alliance Outreach, Durham Alliance Association Social Club and Pride Durham, sees firsthand the challenges queer people face locally.
He says the biggest challenges the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community face are a lack of queer spaces, healthcare access and support services.
Allman says he wants queer Canadians scared by the policies to know they are not alone.
“We’ve faced challenges before, and we will overcome them together,” he says, putting emphasis on the importance of community and solidarity.
Wynne shares the same pride.
“We have made progress, and so those of us who can need to stand up and say this is not right. We need to continue to go forward and make sure people are more protected, not less protected,” says Wynne.
American politics finding their way into Canadian culture is dangerous but local Pride organizations and change makers are combatting this by preserving senses of community and encouragement.
Allman reminds the LGBTQ+ community of the Durham Region that pride is more than a celebration—it’s a movement, a statement, and a show of solidarity.