BEPPLE – Being queer in Canada is a bit harder after Conservative convention

ON SUNDAY AUGUST 27, Kamloops MP Frank Caputo attended the annual Pride Parade and posted a picture on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the parade in the background.

Fast forward to this last week, and Caputo attended the Conservative Party of Canada convention in Quebec City where delegates approved policy to limit access to transgender health care for minors, The amendment passed by 69 per cent of voting members.

A second gender-related motion passed by nearly 90 per cent specified women (as in not trans-women) should have access to single-sex spaces such as bathrooms, sports and prisons.

There are no posts by Caputo on either of these issues on X.

I don’t know what Caputo thinks about these two policies adopted by his party as policy, but I know how I feel about them.

Transitioning gender is medical care. Doctors and others providing this care are governed by their medical colleges. They also have specific legal duties to all they serve, and have additional obligations in relation to youth. Court rulings specify how medical doctors must proceed based on the competency of minors to make informed decisions.

Medical personnel must respect individuals’ human rights, and they must assess the individuals’ ability to consent to treatment. As with any medical care, the medical personnel must put a youth first, not the desires of their parent.

The courts have found that a minor who is competent has the exclusive right to consent to gender transitioning treatment. Treatment might be for example allowing a minor to take puberty-delaying hormone therapy until the age of majority at which point gender-based hormone therapy might commence.

There have been numerous cases in B.C. courts. The rights of competent transgender youth giving consent is unambiguous. The right to give consent is based on competency, not the type of medical treatment.

In terms of the second motion, of women having the right to “single-sex” spaces, it is appalling that the Conservatives have taken on the culture wars of the U.S. Republicans. “Single-sex” spaces means no transgender people would be allowed.

I cannot imagine a transgender woman being incarcerated in a male prison. They would be endangered unless they spent their entire time in segregation.

I cannot understand why keeping a transgender woman out of a public washroom is of concern to the Conservatives. Everyone needs to use a washroom at some point. Where would the Conservatives want a transgender woman to go? I would rather have the Conservatives make it a priority to increase the number of public washrooms for everyone instead of taking away basic services and dignity from our transgender citizens.

I cannot understand why keeping trans people out of sports helps them thrive or helps anyone else for that matter. Sports has a positive effect on self-esteem and positive mental health. Weight lifting, running, soccer and swimming are some of the sports that have found ways to welcome trans athletes.

The policies of the Conservative Party of Canada convention will not necessarily be the party platform heading into the next election. But it is a clear signal that being queer in Canada just got a little bit harder.

Nancy Bepple is a Kamloops City councillor with a strong interest in community building projects.