Photo credit: www.cbc.ca
The chair of transgender studies at the University of Victoria has expressed concerns regarding attendance at this year’s Moving Trans History Forward conference, anticipating a significant decline of up to 40 percent.
Aaron Devor cites reluctance from potential attendees in the U.S. to cross into Canada, not due to apprehensions about entering Canada, but stemming from fears about returning home.
This anxiety was exacerbated by an executive order from the Trump administration earlier in the year, which stated that the federal government recognizes only two immutable sexes—male and female—starting from conception.
Devor, who is also the founder and host of these biennial gatherings, initially hoped for 500 participants based on previous conferences, but now estimates attendance to be around 300. “I believe this decline is primarily due to Americans hesitating to leave their country,” he stated.
WATCH | Transgender Americans feel unsafe following Trump changes:
Trans Americans look to Canada for safety after Trump’s re-election
As the Trump administration rolls back trans rights, some families are considering migration for safety. CBC’s Katie Nicholson interviews individuals caught in this fearful atmosphere, including parents contemplating asylum in Canada.
The executive order mandates that all government-issued IDs, including passports, must reflect the holder’s designated sex, leading the U.S. State Department to announce a cessation of travel documents with the “X” gender marker often preferred by non-binary individuals. Instead, passports will only be issued with male or female markers that correspond to the individual’s biological sex at birth.
According to Devor, the actions of the Trump administration have fostered a climate of apprehension for trans individuals in the U.S., leaving them cautious about attending conferences abroad due to concerns over re-entry into the United States.
Running until Sunday, the conference will gather activists, scholars, and artists from around the globe, with over 100 presenters scheduled to share their insights. The event’s agenda aims to address both historical perspectives and current issues affecting the transgender community at local, national, and global levels.
Retired U.S. lieutenant colonel to speak
One notable speaker at the conference is American philanthropist Jennifer Pritzker, who contributed foundational support to establish the transgender studies chair at the University of Victoria. Pritzker, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard who publicly came out as transgender in 2013, has been outspoken against Trump’s efforts to ban transgender individuals from military service. In recent discussions, she emphasized the detrimental effects such policies may have on troop morale and operational effectiveness.
LISTEN | Aaron Devor discusses the Trump administration’s policy towards trans people:
On The Island 9:07 What does U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order recognizing only two genders mean for transgender and gender-diverse individuals in Canada? Gregor Craigie converses with Aaron Devor, chair of transgender studies at the University of Victoria.
Social justice lawyer Adrienne Smith, also a featured speaker at the conference, expressed that misinformation and transphobia propagated by the Trump administration have heightened feelings of vulnerability within the trans community. “While fear has always been a part of our lives, it has escalated significantly,” she noted.
Smith commended the conference’s decision to introduce virtual attendance for the first time, enhancing accessibility for individuals unable to travel.
The inaugural Moving Trans History Forward conference took place at the university in 2014, attracting around 100 activists and researchers. Devor acknowledges that the current atmosphere surrounding this year’s event has changed dramatically due to pervasive anti-trans messaging and organizing, stating, “We are confronting a president who appears intent on erasing the existence of trans individuals.”
Legal centre overwhelmed with immigration requests
Smith, who is the litigation director at the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre offering free legal services in Vancouver, reported that her office has been inundated with immigration inquiries from trans people seeking to relocate to Canada. However, she pointed out that limited pathways for immigration exist.
Smith remarked that the intent behind the Trump administration’s policies appears to be instilling fear among trans individuals and discouraging them from engaging in public life. “These policies aim to keep us from attending vital gatherings, such as conferences focused on research and human rights, effectively isolating us from our community,” she added. “This is a deliberate strategy, and it is working.”
Listen to They & Us, a CBC British Columbia original podcast exploring gender identity beyond binary definitions. Subscribe at cbc.ca/theyandus.
Source
www.cbc.ca