American fascists have emboldened homophobes worldwide. What does this mean for 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians?
PRIDE 2025
Stephen Whitworth | June 6, 2025
Is it just us, or does Pride month have a bit of a bad vibe this year?
Pride is usually some combination of celebration, protest and public education. And it will be again this year, but recent and dramatic historical events are making it weird.
In North America, the 2SLGBTQ+ communities (plural, because diversity!) have seen essential but nevertheless incredible movement forward. In the last 60 years the perception of Queer sexual orientations and gender identities have evolved from something psychiatrists pathologized to what most of us correctly see as common and natural.
This despite the tremendous efforts of conservatives and Christian extremists and social conservatives to block, delay, obstruct and sabotage progress. And they’re still at it — in Canada, conservative governments have brought in ideologically and politically motivated laws targeting transgender people to appease radicalized supporters and caucus backbenchers.
For example: in Alberta, Danielle Smith’s UCP government banned puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgery for nonbinary teenagers, drawing fire from medical and mental heath experts armed with data showing high rates of suicide attempts for trans kids denied support and gender-affirming care. In fact, the Canadian Medical Association is challenging the law’s constitutionality. Smith has said using the Charter’s infamous Notwithstanding Cause to protect her anti-2SLGBTQ law is “on the table”.
And in Saskatchewan, as you might remember and as this media outlet might have pointed out once or twice, Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party government brought in dysfunctional and divisive sex-ed policies and Charter-violating laws forcing teachers to “out” nonbinary students to potentially abusive parents.
But despite this pulling backwards towards ignorance, Homophobes are increasingly marginalized and frankly, often viewed as kind of crazy. Even though Saskatchewan is arguably a small-C, conservative-minded province, you’ll see thousands of people turn out for Pride parades and far more than that support 2SLGBTQ+ rights. Just look at the last provincial election, where the Sask. Party went from an overwhelming majority to within a few seats of losing.
Which brings us back to that “odd vibe”.
Tangerine Palpatine: Revenge Of The Sith
The 2024 election of Donald Trump changed everything.
Trump’s actions in his second White House term make his 2016–2024 presidential antics look harmless. Seemingly fueled by a thirst for vengeance against everyone who challenged his authority, resisted his corruption or investigated his coups and crimes over the last four years, President Trump has used his second term in office to attack his enemies and assault democratic norms while accelerating the United State’s descent into a billionaire-run backwater.
Like the historical fascists who preceded him, Trump distracts his supporters by blaming minority groups for America’s problems. That has meant shock-and-awe, court-ignoring strategies like deporting immigrants, demonizing science and research and rolling back diversity and equity initiatives. It’s also meant open hostility to LGBTQ+ Americans, particularly transgender Americans, who suddenly find themselves disqualified from military service and targeted by book bans, drag show bans, health care denial and even petty harassment in the form of “sex at birth” replacing “gender” on passports.
The fact that this has happened in the United States — once a country where even its worst leaders at least paid lip service to liberal democratic values — has emboldened bigoted extremists worldwide. Which includes, sadly, Canada.
It’s also motivated civil society to stand up in defence of the minorities Trump has attacked. And that’s good.
Nevertheless, the United States’ Jekyll-to-Hyde has real consequences for 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians citizens who must now re-evaluate the safety of crossing the border.
And that’s something Canada’s governments — federal and provincial — need to be aware of.
Could a transgender Canadian be detained at the U.S. border or sent to one of ICE’s immigration gulags? Can a Queer couple feel confident they won’t be attacked by crazed MAGA zealots?
It seems eminently possible.
And it’s something our governments need to be prepared for.
