Richmond Hill Deputy Mayor Apologizes for Cheering On Pierre Poilievre’s Homophobic and Transphobic Speech

2SLGBTQIA+ community groups question why Pierre Poilievre’s “bigoted” and “discriminatory rhetoric” keeps getting a pass

A municipal politician who cheered on Pierre Poilievre as the Conservative leader delivered a homophobic and transphobic speech is publicly apologizing for his role in the incident following a backlash from local 2SLGBTQIA+ community leaders.

But 2SLGBTQIA+ groups say the apology doesn’t go far enough — and they question why Poilievre’s “bigoted” and “discriminatory rhetoric” keeps getting a pass.

Godwin Chan, a councillor and Deputy Mayor of Richmond Hill, Ontario, appeared on stage with the Conservative leader during a meet-and-greet event last week.

During a speech at the event, Poilievre accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of personally imposing “radical gender ideology” on children.

Video from the event shows Chan standing on stage next to Poilievre through his entire speech, nodding along and applauding at various moments — including in response to Poilievre’s “radical gender ideology” comments.

Poilievre’s comments came under fire from 2SLGBTQIA+ leaders and the Liberal Party of Canada released a video showing showing US Republican figures, including Ron DeSantis, Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert, using the same language as Poilievre.

“There isn’t a province in Canada that currently allows minors to seek surgical interventions to support gender changes without parental consent,” the letter notes. “If that is what Mr. Poilievre has led you and others in that room to believe, they are mistaken.”

“The issue though is much more nuanced than a one-liner.”

“Your head nod, your applause, wasn’t just an approval of that discriminatory statement from Mr. Poilievre, it was incredibly dangerous,” the letter adds. “Your applause and nod of approval provides legitimacy to the generalized and frankly bigoted statement from the CPC, from someone running to be the next Prime Minister of our country.”

“Others will listen to Mr. Poilievre, see your nod of approval, and seek to suppress their loved-ones identity.” |Read more https://pressprogress.ca/richmond-hill-deputy-mayor-apologizes-for-cheering-on-pierre-poilievres-homophobic-and-transphobic-speech/| pressprogress.ca/richmond-hill…

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