Pierre Poilievre said he's 'not aware' of more than 2 genders. Now, gender-diverse Canadians fear the comments 'will create a really toxic environment'

"These people are feeling threatened by this small percentage of the population who just want to live their truth," one Canadian says.

Pierre Poilievre against a blue and pink background of gender symbols.
Last week, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre stated he's "not aware of any other genders than man and woman" during an interiew. (Photo by Dave Chan/AFP; illustration via Yahoo Canada)

When Pierre Poilievre made remarks about gender last week to the press, it was the sort of soundbite that had legs, reaching gender-diverse and queer people across Canada — and bringing emotions with it.

In an interview with CP24 on Jan. 22, the Conservative Party leader said he's "not aware of any other genders than man and woman." He then continued to the reporter that if there are "any other you want me to consider, you're welcome to tell me right now."

Despite the interview then pivoting to other topics, Poilievre's comments have sparked concern in the 2SLGBTQ+ community about the future of queer rights in Canada.

Colleen MacIsaac, a non-binary person living in Halifax, said they weren't "shocked" by the comments, but added "it's terrifying." Speaking to Yahoo Canada, they likened Poilievre's statement to being a left-handed person in a country where you hear a prime minister candidate "say, 'I really know about right-handed people. If there's other kinds of handed people, you tell me.' Well, no. I do exist, thank you."

It's going to create a really toxic environment for us.Drew, of Montreal

Other Canadians expressed similar sentiments. For non-binary Montrealer Drew, who asked to have their last name withheld, they said it felt like "it's going to create a really toxic environment for us."

Meanwhile, leaders of 2SLGBTQ+ organizations based in Toronto also expressed fear. Helen Kennedy, the executive director of Egale Canada, noted she wasn't surprised but found Poilievre's words "very disturbing and irresponsible." Lauren Pragg, the executive director of Ontario's LGBT Youth Line, added it was "scary. It makes me angry. It also feels predictable."

Pragg continued to note the peer support helpline for queer youth "saw a very big spike in service users" after U.S. President Donald Trump's re-election in November. Since then, the service has still seen "higher-than-normal numbers of young people" seeking help and feeling uncertain, Pragg added. Kennedy also stated the Canadian Security Intelligence Service met with her to discuss the "increase in rhetoric and violence against" 2SLGBTQ+ people.

Poilievre's statements were in response to a reporter's questions about whether he would hypothetically ask the U.S. to recognize the gender-neutral "X" option on Canadian passports. It came after Trump's recent executive order stating there are only two sexes. It's a position many biologists view as being "too simplistic," according to a 2018 Scientific American article outlining there's a larger spectrum beyond only female and male.

It's not something you want to hear from potentially the next prime minister of Canada.Helen Kennedy, Egale Canada

"The audacity [of Poilievre] is exceptional," Drew said. "I think he has no right to speak on this at all, especially since the reason he is refusing to acknowledge that there are more than two genders is that he is allegedly trying to lower the cost of living for Canadians. You can directly affect the cost of living crisis by making jobs more accessible to gender-diverse people."

Pragg said these communities — particularly amongst trans people — are being "targeted in a predictable way." They added it's like the community is being scapegoated to try and drive division.

"It is important for everybody to pay attention to these conversations because it is about really being able to justify taking away people's rights," Pragg stated. "That is the underlying purpose of these kinds of conversations. Trans people are seen as an easy 'target.'"

As defined by the Human Rights Campaign, "trans" is "an umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned to us at birth." Pragg added it's a controversial enough subject that's easy enough for conservatives use and normalize "the idea of dividing people by difference."

Kennedy, meanwhile, said some Canadians have already seen his rhetoric in action. Egale Canada, a non-profit called Skipping Stone and several families initiated litigation against the government of Alberta in December to challenge the constitutionality of Bill 26.

That bill, passed in the Alberta Legislature on Dec. 5, would prevent health-care providers from giving transgender treatments, like puberty blockers and hormone therapy, to people under age 16. "That's a pretty scary position to be in," Kennedy said, noting the families are "fighting for their child's right to self-identify."

Protestors gather at the legislature during a rally for Trans rights in Edmonton on Feb. 4, 2024. Last week, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the most restrictive policy for trans and non-binary youth in Canada, that critics say will increase the risk of abuse and self-harm. (The Canadian Press/Amber Bracken)
Protestors gather at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton. In October, the province unveiled three bills affecting trans and gender-diverse youth, including Bill 26. (The Canadian Press/Amber Bracken)

According to a report from Statistics Canada released on April 27, 2022, one in 300 people in the country aged 15 or older are transgender or non-binary. That's around 0.33 per cent of Canada's population. "To target some of the most marginalized folks in our society, a very small number ... I'm not quite sure why they — the Conservatives and the right wing — have decided to target a group that is so vulnerable," Kennedy added. "It impacts folks right across the country, in every jurisdiction and in every level of their lives.

"People need to understand that, and what it actually means in terms of how trans and non-binary people access basic human rights in this country."

These people are feeling threatened by this small percentage of the population who just want to live their truth.Colleen MacIsaac, of Halifax

Pragg shared similar thoughts. "Ideally, politicians wouldn't speak about our communities in an election cycle. We don't want to be used as fodder in this way," they said, adding issues like higher suicidal ideation rates, housing problems, lack of health care and substance abuse are some of the things they wish politicians would speak during elections.

"The issues and challenges that our communities are facing are shared across other communities, and any investment in those areas would benefit everyone," Pragg continued.

Members of LGBT+ community attend a protest
U.S. President Donald Trump recently gave an executive order stating there are only two sexes. (Reuters/Adriano Machado)

Meanwhile, non-binary Haligonian Colleen MacIsaac noted it comes down to science: "It's not political. It's just a fact that gender-non-conforming and intersex people and trans people exist and have always existed. Exist across species, have existed across cultures. ... But it's become weirdly such a political issue because, for some reason, these people are feeling threatened by this small percentage of the population who just want to live their truth."

Nothing would make trans and non-binary people happier than people actually minding their own business around how they identify.Helen Kennedy, Egale Canada

Kennedy said "it's very frightening for trans and non-binary folks" in various situations, whether it's at the workplace or simply seeking housing. "It really pushes people further underground, if they're privileged enough to pass."

She explained that in the trans community, there's a saying called "woodworking." It's where people in the community essentially aim to "disappear into the woodwork and try and be as stealth as possible so you can basically exist" somewhat safely.

"When Mr. Poilievre says, 'Well, government should mind its own business'? Nothing would make trans and non-binary people happier than people actually minding their own business around how they identify," Kennedy noted.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.