March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). This day is dedicated to celebrating transgender people, their contributions to society and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide.
Transphobic sentiments continue to escalate among the far right in Canada. In the United States and United Kingdom, bills and laws are being issued that target transgender civil rights, threatening lives and communities.
TDOV is a day to combat that hate, to uplift and celebrate the trans community, and advance awareness about the challenges they face—at a time when we need it more than ever.
This year, over 200 queer, trans and allied organizations across Canada have published an open letter to the leaders of Canada’s major political parties urging them to uphold equality, freedom and human rights for queer and trans people in Canada.
The letter—addressed to Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre, Jagmeet Singh, Elizabeth May, Jonathan Pedneault and Yves-François Blanchet—reminds the leaders that freedom, equality and human rights are vital to a healthy democracy and that addressing inequality and discrimination towards minority groups creates a more prosperous, free and equal Canada—for everyone.
Written by Queer Momentum, Egale Canada, the Enchanté Network and the Dignity Network of Canada, the letter recognizes the global backlash against 2SLGBTQIA+ equality, and urges party leaders to “reject any effort, however veiled, to roll Canada backwards on equality and human rights for queer and trans people.”
“We are witnessing the rise of anti-trans hate and two Canadian provincial governments rolling back on the freedom, human rights and healthcare access of transgender people and their families,” Fae Johnstone, executive director of Queer Momentum and lead author on the letter, said. “When freedom and human rights are under attack, it is critical that federal party leaders across the political spectrum speak up and show their support for 2SLGBTQIA+ people and our human rights.”
With the ongoing threats to our sovereignty from U.S. President Donald Trump, it is more important than ever that we protect everything we value as Canadians—including the human rights of our queer and trans community members.
Over the past 50 years, Canada has taken immense strides towards freedom and equality for queer and trans Canadians. We have been a global leader and trailblazer on queer and trans issues. Now, the world has entered an alarming period of backlash—and Canada is not immune.
“We’ve come a long way on 2SLGBTQI+ rights and equality, but we still have a long way to go,” said Tyler Boyce, executive director of the Enchanté Network. “Commitments from all parties to uphold freedom, reject hate and ensure stable, long-term funding will reassure 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians and allies that equality and inclusion remain a priority.”
You can view and sign the open letter HERE.
This article appears in Mar 1-31, 2025.
