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November 19, 2018
TORONTO – Unifor expresses grave concern following a vote by members of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party voicing support for the removal of gender identity from Ontario’s sex-ed curriculum.
“This shameful resolution shows that Doug Ford would rather appease a small faction of his party than uphold the human rights of trans students in Ontario,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Ford’s Government has already enacted this transphobia by repealing comprehensive sex-ed.”
Ontario Progressive Conservative members met over the weekend to discuss and debate resolutions put forward by members and riding associations. The non-binding resolution, introduced by former leadership candidate Tanya Granic Allen, that called for any mention of gender identity to be removed from the province's sex ed curriculum, deeming the concept an "unscientific, liberal ideology."
“All students need to be in a learning environment that recognizes their identities and experiences, and teachers need to be given appropriate tools to enhance that learning and recognition of reality,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi. “Gender identity and expression are enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The existence and human rights of trans and non-binary people are not up for debate.”
The Ontario PC resolution comes on the eve of Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR). November 20 is a day where communities across the world come together to recognize those whose lives have been taken due to due to anti-trans violence.
“Trans rights are human rights,” said Rizvi. “No person should be subject to discrimination, intimidation or violence because of their gender expression or identity.”
Unifor is committed to ending violence against transgender people and building caring communities across Ontario.
For more information or to book an interview with Naureen Rizvi please contact Unifor Communications Representative Hamid Osman at @email or (647) 448-2823 (cell).
