By: Drew Simpson
From Nov. 12 to 19, the trans and LGBTQA+ community came together to observe Trans Awareness Week. While marginalized groups were reflecting on the country’s history of transphobic violence, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party passed a resolution to open debate whether gender identity theory should be stripped from curriculum in Ontario schools.
The Nov. 17 resolution seeks to characterize gender identity theory as a “controversial, unscientific, liberal ideology.”
While Ford has since pledged to not proceed with the motion, it has significant implications at McMaster. The resolution has sparked concerns from student groups on campus and in Hamilton.
According to Daniel Blum from Speqtrum Hamilton, a youth-led community program for queer and trans youth in Hamilton, the non-binding resolution has dangerous consequences for the trans community.
“Political sentiment can be every bit of dangerous as a piece of legislation because it can embolden people who have similar sentiments to act. And it can push for further legislation,” says Blum.
“My concern is that people are going to stop fighting because of that, and that we have to keep fighting. Especially cis people and allies out there that might think ‘oh Ford put out a statement, we are okay now.’ We are not okay. Our rights are always still in jeopardy. They can always still be rolled back,” said a representative of Speqtrum who is also involved as an executive at the McMaster Students Union Pride Community Centre
They also explained that the resolution may put trans rights in jeopardy.
On the evening of Nov. 17, the MSU’s PCC released a statement condemning the resolution.
“The pride community centre is vehemently opposed to this resolution and vows to stand with our communities as we mobilize against actions which seek to delegitimize our identities and revoke our rights and protections,” reads part of the statement.
In addition, the PCC called the resolution transphobic and colonialist. The group’s Facebook statement was shared by the MSU’s Women and Gender Equity Network, which has yet to create their own written response.
The Hamilton Trans Health Coalition has also denounced the resolution.
“As healthcare providers and supporters of the Hamilton trans health coalition, we are working to close gaps in care and know that we need leadership from government, not additional barriers. We wholeheartedly condemn this resolution which is meant to delegitimize transgender people,” reads part of a statement on the HTHC’s website.
The Hamilton Academy of Medicine stipulates that the resolution’s characterization of gender identity is scientifically inaccurate.
“Calling it a theory erases the fact that everyone in the entire world has a gender identity. It is not a theory for cis theory people so it is not a theory for trans people either,” said Blum.
Blum also notes that there are resources available for LGBTQA+ students. For instance, both MSU PCC and WGEN provide peer support, either one-on-one, in groups or in drop-in safe spaces. Speqtrum also offers support groups and also promotes the Transgender Suicide Hotline, which can be reached at 1-877-330-6366.
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On Aug. 30, the Progressive Conservative provincial government announced a new directive mandating all Ontario universities to “develop, implement and comply” with formal free speech policies by January 2019. According to the official statement, if a university is not compliant, the particular institution may be subject to a reduction in operating grant funding.
In June, McMaster released updated freedom of expression guidelines for event organizers and participants following an ad-hoc committee report and first draft. As of now, it is unclear whether these guidelines qualify as a policy under the new directive.
“We are hopeful that this guidance document will meet the needs of the government,” said McMaster director of communications Gord Arbeau. “We are waiting to hear back from the province about the specifics around that directive that was issued a few weeks ago.”
Both the McMaster Student Union and Canadian Union of Public Employees 3906 which represents sessional faculty, post-doc fellows and teaching assistants, have objected to the Ford government’s mandate and McMaster’s current stance on the issue of freedom of expression.
In particular, MSU president Ikram Farah stated that she acknowledges concerns from students who feel that the directive for a mandatory free speech policy could suppress the voices of marginalized communities.
“What I have heard from marginalized and racialized students is that there is a fear that free speech legislation will be used to further limit the ability to call attention to truths,” said Farah.
Nathan Todd, CUPE 3906 recording secretary, also expresses concern with the province-mandated policy. In particular, CUPE 3906 stands with the official CUPE 3906 stance that the free speech policy could negatively affect marginalized communities and actually prevent freedom of expression.
“Our main concern is that it could give the university too much power to prevent things like organizing and mobilizing,” said Todd.
CUPE 3906 is specifically worried that the current McMaster free speech guidelines and any future policy will limit protest.
“We released a response to that policy and our policy is essentially the same for this one for Doug Ford, which is that it is actually quite anti-free speech in a lot of ways and hasn't been developed or implemented responsibly or democratically,” said Todd.
The Student Representative Assembly unanimously passed a motion in June stipulating that the MSU “advocate to the university that continuous revisions be made” to the freedom of expression guidelines.
At the Sept. 23 SRA meeting, Farah urged SRA caucus members to actively gather student feedback on the issue.
“Should it be a policy, at least let it be the best guidance document possible that is reflective of the students who will be affected by it most,” said Farah.
CUPE 3906 has been taking action by coordinating with its union members to establish a formal response to the new policy.
Despite the MSU and CUPE 3906’s objections to the university’s stance on free expression, McMaster stands by its guidelines and commitment to “open and civil discourse.” Nevertheless, the university is willing to hear out different sides on the matter and even amend the current guiding document.
“If someone came forward with other ways of improving that document or with suggestions on how that document could be better understood or positioned, then absolutely we would be open to considering that,” said Arbeau.
For now, the university is waiting to hear back from the provincial government. By imposing a firm directive and a short timeline, the Ford government has brought the subject of free speech back front and centre at McMaster and across Ontario.
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