If the NDP forms government, can you commit that this will be one of your top priorities?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nAbsolutely. There is no reason for it to be delayed. It doesn\u2019t require any delay. There\u2019s no negotiation with provinces, where other [bills] might require some time. There\u2019s really no justification that this would take any time at all. So this can be done quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s the heroic stories of people who have gone through it that gives us the additional motivation to ban conversion therapy.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Many survivors say they have been fighting to be centred in the way this policy comes into practice.<\/strong> Would the NDP<\/strong> work<\/strong> with survivors of conversion therapy to make this better legislation?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nWhat makes this ban so important is that we have examples of people that went through this so-called \u201ctherapy.\u201d It\u2019s been harmful, and people have stories about why it\u2019s harmful. It\u2019s largely the heroic stories of people who have gone through it, who are sharing their stories, that gives us the additional motivation\u2014if we needed it\u2014to do it. We have people who have lived it and then can share with us how much it hurts and how harmful it is.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There has been a lot of criticism from trans and gender nonconforming communities about Bill C-6, who say the bill didn\u2019t adequately address conversion therapy that targets gender identity specifically. How will the NDP work to address this in the next iteration of the bill?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s a really fair point. While there\u2019s some obvious elements that were addressed, there\u2019s still more that can be done and so we would be open to making sure it\u2019s a ban on conversion therapy in terms of banning all harmful practices. So I\u2019m open to working with the queer community, working with the the Two-Spirit, LGBTQ community to figure out what else is included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NDP has committed to ending the blood ban for queer men and trans women. Can you tell me what meaningful steps your party will take to make that a reality?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nJust getting it done. This is something that perpetuates homophobia. It has no basis at all in science, and there\u2019s no reason for it to exist. It\u2019s not based in what is going to keep people safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just earlier today, I met two young women and asked them what their biggest concern was. They said, \u201cgay rights, queer rights.\u201d And I said, \u201cWhat particularly?\u201d and they were just saying, \u201cWell, homophobia is still a big deal, and it still exists.\u201d And this is their lived experiences, that it\u2019s still a problem, being accepted. And [the blood ban] is just another example of something that\u2019s held out to be scientific, and that gives it some legitimacy. And it just perpetuates a stereotype. And that\u2019s wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In your platform, your party has committed to helping improve access to trans health care. Can you elaborate on how the NDP is going to work with the provinces and territories to assure that trans and gender nonconforming people have access, particularly with regards to medications and gender-confirmation surgeries?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThis should be considered a part of our health care system. These are rights that people should have access to. Generally speaking, we want to make sure that these rights are respected, and that we use the Canada Health Act principles to protect those rights.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then more specifically, around things like medication coverage, this harkens back to why it\u2019s so important to have medication coverage for all, because it speaks to people in many different ways. It speaks to people who are dealing with chronic illness, but it also would support trans people. It would also support women when it comes to protecting their reproductive rights. So there\u2019s so many areas where pharmacare is so important. But this is another example of a specific way that having medication coverage would help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe have a role to play in helping folks that are being persecuted to be able to escape that persecution.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The NDP platform also commits to a permanent path for resettlement for LGBTQ2S+ refugees. With what\u2019s happening in Afghanistan right now, we are seeing an even greater need for that. Can you explain how your party is going to make this possible?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nWe believe strongly that Canada has been a refuge for people fleeing persecution around the world, and we\u2019re proud of that. One of the ways we can do our part is to acknowledge that people flee real danger in their lives because of their sexual identity and their gender identity and expression. We need to make sure that that is a strong part of our humanitarian approach to immigration and for refugees\u2014for people who are fleeing persecution in countries where it\u2019s illegal to be who they are, or who are being threatened with violence because of where they are. We have a role to play in helping folks that are being persecuted like that be able to escape that persecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Will resettling queer and trans refugees be a priority for the NDP?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nAbsolutely. When we look at our immigration system, we look at people facing threat. It\u2019s one of our pillars already, that we have humanitarian grounds based [for] people that are in fear [for] their lives because of political beliefs or because of their activities or civic engagement. Similarly, this should be a pillar\u2014that people who are being targeted because of who they are should be able to find refuge and protection in Canada. That\u2019s what we’re known for. People are proud of that. And we should continue to be able to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here in Canada, there\u2019s a massive housing crisis, and we know that LGBTQ2S+ youth are among the most precariously housed. How will the NDP address this housing crisis, specifically when it comes to queer and trans youth?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nAny time there\u2019s a crisis, the most marginalized are the hardest impacted. So if we have a problem with access to health care, we will often find that the data will show that it\u2019s the people who are most marginalized\u2014whether by their socio-economic [status], their gender identity, race, their ethnicity\u2014that contribute to the disproportionate impact anytime there\u2019s an inequality, or there\u2019s a crisis. So our broad commitments to tackling the housing crisis will then help people who have been hardest hit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our housing plan, we speak of specific housing that meets the needs of people with nonconforming genders, or people from the queer community, the LGBTQ community. We need to make sure that our housing solution to the crisis responds to the needs of the community. And that includes being able to respond to all communities and all their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cAny time there\u2019s a crisis, the most marginalized are the hardest impacted.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The NDP platform also specifically references the importance of honouring Indigenous women and girls and Two-Spirit people, calling for reconciliation and justice. Can you speak to how your party will actionably be honouring these communities? And what will be your first priority with regards to improving the lives of Indigenous women and girls and Two-Spirit people?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nWe have a very strong guideline or a vision around how we can do that, and that\u2019s the Calls [for] Justice from the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. It lays out a course of action for us to concretely protect against the violence that is so prevalent against Indigenous women and girls and Two-Spirit people. So that\u2019s, for me, a really strong guiding light: let\u2019s implement those Calls [for] Justice, let\u2019s look at those specific demands made by the Indigenous community in response to the fact that Indigenous women are disproportionately killed and targeted. The Indigenous community has worked on a solution\u2014we should honour that and implement it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why does LGBTQ2S+ representation in your party matter to you? How are you helping to support LGBTQ2S+ candidates running in your party?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThis is something that speaks to me as someone who didn\u2019t really see myself reflected in politics. Seeing people who look like me or share my story made me feel more welcomed. When you see yourself reflected in the halls of power, you believe that you deserve to be there. And that\u2019s why representation matters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also helps to make better decisions. When someone [who] has lived experience understands what it\u2019s like to be facing barriers because of one\u2019s sexuality or gender expression, then you can fight the problems better. You can solve the problems better because you\u2019re coming from a position of understanding them in a really intimate and personal way. The more representation we have, the better. And really, the people who represent the country should look like the country and should reflect all the diversity of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NDP leader spoke to Xtra about banning conversion therapy, improving trans healthcare and why representation is so vital in politics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":207658,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editorial_slug":"5","_editorial_slug":"5","exclude_from_latest_block":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5],"contributors":[199],"topic":[76,78,84,1948],"clients":[],"series":[2103],"timeliness":[61],"editorial_format":[33,29],"type-of-work":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207656"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=207656"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":207711,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207656\/revisions\/207711"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/207658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=207656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=207656"},{"taxonomy":"contributors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributors?post=207656"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=207656"},{"taxonomy":"clients","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/clients?post=207656"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=207656"},{"taxonomy":"timeliness","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/timeliness?post=207656"},{"taxonomy":"editorial_format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/editorial_format?post=207656"},{"taxonomy":"type-of-work","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xtramagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-of-work?post=207656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}