'Little Bird' Crave, APTN drama follows Sixties Scoop survivor's search for home

"It's about time that we tell the story," the show's star Darla Contois said

Elisabetta Bianchini
May 26, 2023·

Famed Canadian producer and actor Jennifer Podemski has taken on the role of showrunner for the new Crave and APTN lumi drama series Little Bird, authentically and honestly telling the story of a Sixties Scoop survivor uncovering her family history, starring Darla Contois.

Little Bird is a story told in multiple time periods. It begins in the '60s, when we see the Canadian government's abhorrent practice of taking Indigenous children away from their parents, where some ended up in foster homes and others got adopted.

It's estimated that between 20,000 to 40,000 children were part of the Sixties Scoop removal of Indigenous kids from their families.

Little Bird jumps 18 years into the future, in 1985, and brings us to Montreal, specifically to an engagement party for Esther Rosenblum (Contois), who was adopted by her Jewish family when she was five, and her fiancé David (Rowen Kahn).

It's after this party that Esther, born Bezhig Little Bird, starts off on her path to find out about her life before her adoption, in Long Pine Reserve in Saskatchewan, including her quest to find the siblings she was separated from.

Darla Contois and Lisa Edelstein in the Canadian Crave and APTN series Little Bird
'It's about time that we understand the gravity of these experiences'

The initial idea for the project was brought to Podemski from Rezolution Pictures in 2015, the general concept of an Indigenous adoptee who was raised by a Jewish family. Podemski herself is Jewish on her father's side, and Anishinaabe, Leni Lenape and Métis on her mother's side, so it connected to her personal life.

“From that sort of conceptual pitch, I was just hooked right away and really wanted to dive into not just that identity intersection, but also as an important story, like the Sixties Scoop, which I had also been working on in various ways for many years,” Podemski told Yahoo Canada. “I knew very consciously that nobody knew about it.”

Contois is absolutely exquisite in portraying Esther, with the actor revealing that she was "immediately very excited" to take on a project about the Sixties Scoop, attached to Crave and APTN.

“I think one of the things that was mainly attractive was that it's about time that we tell the story and it's about time that we understand the gravity of these experiences, and add to the collective Canadian consciousness of what happened,” Contois said.

“I think because in my career I've always focused so much on authenticity and honesty when it comes to the Indigenous experience, the role of Esther was sort of made for me and meant for me. [I] got so lucky because this has been my focus for such a long time. So walking into Esther and playing Esther, I was just so honoured and so grateful to be there.”

Contois, describing the experience on set, said that there were moments where she really relied on co-directors Zoe Hopkins and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, with this being the actor's first "major" production.

“There was a lot of trust involved in our working relationship," Contois said. "But also, they allowed me a freedom to sort of just go where I needed to go for Esther and allowed me to really bring her experience to life through what I thought was necessary.”

In balancing the different elements of this story, from the historical components to the psychological element of Esther's journey and social commentary, Podemski explained that it was important to have everything established "through Esther's lens."

“Our dominating rule was if it's in the 1985 storyline, our timeline, every single thing has to be centred through Esther's perspective,” Podemski said.

“That made it ... easy to interconnect that social commentary because it's seen through someone's lens, and the psychological journey that she's on and the PTSD that she's experiencing. Everything was woven in very consciously … to help us incorporate the multiple complex layers of storytelling that had to take place.”

Canadian Crave and APTN series Little Bird

'The space between being alienated and integrated'

Another core element for this series is the concept of "belonging," as Esther explores what "home" means for her.

“One of our guiding principles [was] to utilize this idea of belonging and not belonging, and sort of the space between being alienated and integrated, and that wavering between those places that you may never exist entirely,” Podemski said. “The overall tone was exactly that, was trying to anchor it in this feeling of, what is family and what is belonging and that is more of a universal experience.”

“Something that everybody can relate to is, where do I belong? And seeing it through Esther's perspective, anchored in Indigenous identity and birthplace and homelands, and all of those things. Then her experience being Jewish, her search for home brings her to a place where she realizes that home is maybe not a place necessarily.”

With a project that is this authentic, real and harrowing to depict on screen, it can be hard for people watching to imagine taking on a role like Esther and then leaving that on the set at the end of the day. Contois recognizes that she's acquired the skill of "compartmentalization."

“Then also, because I am a mother to a toddler, there's a different hat that you have to put on when you're a mother and there are certain things that you have to learn how to do, like setting work aside," Contois said. "So that was really important and something that I learned very quickly.”

While the whole story of Little Bird is incredibly compelling, the sounds of the series really help build tension, but also really ground the story in its locations and time periods.

“I knew going into this that I did not want a soundtrack and I wanted to have a very like diegetic audio experience, or acoustic experience, that was very much connected to her psychological journey,” Podemski said. “Very authentic sort of source music from the eras and also, this kind of idea that the land has a voice.”

“For sound, it was really an incredible journey. It was the first time I was able to work with our location sound person and our post-production sound person, who were both brilliant and they kind of worked together to bring the sounds of the environment into the soundtrack, into the acoustic soundtrack that was the land speaking to Esther.”

Podemski also praised the "brilliant artists" behind making the series visually come to life.

“We were really looking for a very poetic expression of two different, very different, versions of Esther, without feeling like we were telling a historical story,” Podemski said.

Actresses from the Crave and APTN Original Drama Series, LITTLE BIRD, Darla Contois, centre, Jennifer Podemski, left, creator of the series, and Lisa Edelstein pose for a photograph in Toronto on Thursday, May 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

'It's pretty dire in terms of representation'

In terms of where we stand with telling Indigenous stories in entertainment, specifically with Indigenous talent in front of and behind the camera, veteran actor/producer/director Podemski indicated that it seems that things are "a little bit better."

“I think in front of the screen, it seems like things are doing better, a little bit better maybe even behind the scenes sort of above the line with directors, and maybe writers and producers," Podemski said. "Just marginally sort of better than lets say the last 20 years.”

Podemski also has a non-profit organization, The Shine Network, that tackles the underrepresentation of Indigenous women in Canada’s media production industry. The research pulled from that work indicates that there is still significant work to do.

“It's pretty dire in terms of representation and ownership of IP and production companies, and just generally, there's a lot of capacity to be built and a lot of narrative sovereignty to be achieved,” Podemski said. “There's a lot of work to be done, but I'm not going to discredit the work that’s being done and the incredible, beautiful storytellers that have emerged.”

“But there is a lot of work to be done and it's really the platforms that are the most important. So the fact that Crave, along with APTN lumi, took [Little Bird] to this level, and other stories like it, I think is a good sign that people, industry is beginning to step up to the plate and recognize the importance of uplifting these kinds of stories.”

When it comes to what Podemski hopes viewers take from watching the Little Bird series, she hopes that "people see themselves in the story.

“I hope that people experience an entirely new perspective from the story,” Podemski said. “I hope that people are awakened by the story in a way that might impact bigger societal change, as it relates to the current reality for Indigenous people and how we are seen in this country."

"I hope that uplifts Indigenous voices, and makes an impact on the hearts and minds of all the viewers.”

Canada issues grim U.S. travel advice amid mass shootings: 'Risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time'

The Government of Canada is warning its residents about mass shootings and the high rate of guns in the U.S.

Leticia Gaba
·Writer, Yahoo News Canada
May 27, 2023·

“It is that this is happening with enough frequency that nobody knows when or where, but there is a risk all the time,” says an attorney on the rise in gun violence in America. (Credit: Getty Images)

Travel advice issued by the Government of Canada is asking Canadians to "familiarize yourself on how to respond to an active shooter situation" when visiting the United States, in light of the mass shooting trend looming over the country.

The Government of Canada’s travel information page reminds travellers to be cautious and take security precautions when visiting down south, while pointing in particular to the common nature of gun violence in America.

“The rate of firearm possession in the United States is high,” notes the official travel advice, last updated on May 19, 2023.

“Incidents of mass shootings occur, resulting most often in casualties. Although tourists are rarely involved, there is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

There’s been an upward trend of mass shootings and gun-related deaths in recent years, with more than 200 mass shootings having occurred in the first five months of 2023 alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group that has been tracking gun violence patterns.


For Florida-based attorney Sean Domnick, whose work intersects with the mass shooting trend in America, the problem isn’t a matter of “are we generally safe.”

“It is that this is happening with enough frequency that nobody knows when or where, but there is a risk all the time,” said Domnick to Yahoo News Canada.

“There is no predicting where it is that this is going to occur before it occurs.”

The U.S. is generally consider safe for travel by the Government of Canada. However, it is the sporadic nature and frequency of mass shootings that poses a risk.

The worst of the mass shootings, such as a recent one in a Dallas-area mall, which left nine people dead including the gunman, have been making headlines worldwide, adding to the fear and validity of the advice.

Only a week prior, an Oklahoma shooting resulted in the deaths of seven, including a woman and her three daughters. Just two days before, a man in Cleveland allegedly killed five people after he was asked by a neighbour to stop firing his gun in his yard. The man led police on a long day search leading to his capture.

And the stories don’t stop here, as it seems you can track a new story for almost every day of 2023, as mass shootings become common in the U.S.

In a statement to Yahoo News Canada, James Emmanuel Wanki, spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada says “the Government of Canada takes the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously.”

“Canada monitors safety and security conditions abroad 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, to provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice and Advisories.”

Global Affairs Canada did not specify to Yahoo News Canada when exactly its "gun violence" advice was issued. However, it’s not just Canada that has issued an advice. Other countries such as New Zealand and Australia have also advised their citizens to exercise increased caution while visiting, directly pointing to the gun violence issues.

For Domnick, the advisories are not so much a warning — rather, it is a reminder to be cautious and take preventative measures.

“Gun violence is not unique to the U.S.A., but it is prevalent in the U.S.A. The risk is everywhere. You have to be aware of your surroundings.”
A deeper look into the gun pattern in America

According to the Gun Violence Archive, in each of the three last complete years in the U.S., there have been more than 600 mass shootings — almost two each day — which is when there are at least four injuries or fatalities. In 2022, there were 20,200 deaths as a result of guns and 38,550 injuries.

A study by The Violence Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research centre, shows where public mass shootings have been taking place between 1966 to present. Top of the list is retail locations — which are known to have high and uncontrolled foot traffic — followed by restaurants and bars.

In February 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke out following a mass shooting, representing one of the many occasions he’s done so, as he looks for action at a political level, noting that their current system of for gun background checks isn't enough.

“Gun violence is an epidemic and Congress must act now,” wrote Biden in a statement.

“We need—need—commonsense gun law reforms. That includes requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, fully closing the boyfriend loophole to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, requiring safe storage of guns, and eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets."
Familiarize yourself on how to respond to an active shooter situation

The Department of Homeland Security defines an active shooter as “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.”

They can select victims at random, and events evolve very quickly — so it’s important to know how to react in order to protect yourself and others around you. The protocol is to first run, hide, and fight only as a last resort.

“Follow the path of least resistance,” said Domnick. “The first thing you want to do is get away, and be aware of your surroundings.”

When an active shooter is in your vicinity, you should immediately leave your belongings behind and start to plan an escape route. While evacuating, help others escape — but do not move the wounded.

Call 911 when you are safe, and aim to hide in an area that is out of the shooter’s view, ideally with a blocked entry. It is important to share the following information with 911 operations while on the phone:

Location of the active shooter.


Number of shooters.


Physical description of shooters.


Number and type of weapons the shooter has.


Number of potential victims at the location.

Once you have reached a safe location, you will likely be held in that area by law enforcement until the situation is under control.

Upon law enforcement arrival, do not ask immediate questions, remain calm and follow instructions. For more information on how to protect yourself in an active shooter situation, review the official Active Shooter Reference Guide.

Correction: A previous version of this article stated that the Government of Canada issued an "advisory" in relation to gun violence, but instead it is "advice." Yahoo Canada regrets this error. For a full list of advice related to U.S. travel, review the Government of Canada’s travel page.

Poilievre tries to head off PPC vote as Bernier bets on social conservatives

The Canadian Press
Updated June 2, 2023 10:28 a.m. MDT

OTTAWA -

Pierre Poilievre is off to Manitoba to rally Conservative supporters ahead of a byelection that Maxime Bernier is hoping will send him back to Parliament.

The far-right People's Party of Canada leader lost his Quebec seat in the 2019 federal vote and lost again in the 2021 election.

The riding of Portage--Lisgar came up for grabs after longtime Conservative MP Candice Bergen, who served as the party's interim leader before Poilievre took over, decided to resign. Bernier will test his luck in the rural Manitoba riding that delivered his fledging party its best result in 2021, with slightly more than 20 per cent of the vote.

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Numbers like that spooked Conservative MPs, especially those in the West who saw their typically rock-solid support slipping to a more populist party. Capital Dispatch: Sign up for in-depth political coverage of Parliament Hill

Bernier stood vehemently against COVID-19 health restrictions, while then-Tory leader Erin O'Toole struggled to strike a position on vaccine mandates that satisfied anyone the party's base.

Now with Poilievre at the helm, the federal Conservatives are facing a rematch and supporters are looking for a victory that quashes the idea that the PPC poses a real threat.

Poilievre plans to host a "special meet and greet" rally Friday evening in Winkler, a city roughly an hour and a half south of Winnipeg. MPs have also visited the area, including House leader Andrew Scheer, whose razor-thin defeat of Bernier in the Conservatives' 2017 leadership race paved the way for the former Quebec MP to strike out on his own.

During a news conference in Winnipeg on Friday, Poilievre strongly criticized Bernier and tried to draw a parallel between him and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

They would both "need a map to find Portage or Winkler," he said.

"If you vote for either of them, you'll end up with a Liberal government."

The People's Party's candidate from the 2021 race attributes his support in that vote to momentum driven by strong feelings about the pandemic.

And Solomon Wiebe thinks the political climate has shifted.

"(Bernier) would be very lucky to get half of what I got last time," he said in an interview on Thursday.

"This is just what my expectations are, and I like to keep my expectations real."

As far as Bernier is concerned, his biggest challenge is operational, given that his party lacks the strength of the Conservatives. "We didn't have that team in the beginning of the campaign." Money is another matter, as the Tories raised $8.3 million in the first three months of the year, compared to the People's Party, which hauled in just under $300,000.

Bernier believes people across the acres of farmland and Mennonite communities that dot the sprawling rural riding remember the pandemic.

It's a reality the Conservative candidate knows, too.

Branden Leslie -- who managed Bergen's election campaign in 2019 -- won the party's nomination over three others, including the former provincial health minister, by highlighting that he stood as "pro-freedom" while his opponent locked down churches.

It was in the region where Bernier was also arrested for violating COVID-19 restrictions in 2021.

His strategy for attracting support for the June 19 byelection has so far involved making anti-trans statements targeting youth and children -- characterizing it as a position on "gender ideology" -- and vowing to reopen the abortion debate. Both are issues he views as weaknesses for the federal Conservatives.

"It's important for people here," he said in an interview. "People want to have a real debate about (these) issues."

He also hopes to tap into frustration over what he calls "climate hysteria."

Poilievre also rails against what he calls "destructive woke policies," releasing a recent video showing the toppling of statues, vandalized Christian churches and a decision by one Quebec school to replace Mother's Day events with a celebration of parents -- a move that was made to acknowledge that some students were living in foster care, or had lost a parent.

Poilievre earned the support of social conservatives during last year's leadership race for his vocal opposition to vaccine and mask mandates, but there remain some who believe he should put a greater focus on cultural issues.

He has said a future Conservative government would not pass a law restricting abortion. And after ousting a social conservative candidate during a nomination race in rural Ontario back in March, some supporters of Campaign Life Coalition say they are "very cautiously observing" what Poilievre does next.

"We're not ready to abandon the Conservative party by any means," said Jack Fonseca, director of political operations for the anti-abortion group, adding he hopes that situation was a "one-off" and not indicative of the way social conservatives can expect to be treated.

At the time, a party spokeswoman said the candidate, Gerrit Van Dorland, was barred for failing to comply with a request to provide all previous comments made online or in other publications. His campaign disputed that.

Fonseca, who said his group has support in almost 900 households across Portage--Lisgar, likes at least some of what Bernier is proposing.

RightNow, another anti-abortion group that spoke out after Van Dorland's disqualification, is providing its supporters with information on where Bernier and Leslie stand on certain matters in the upcoming byelection, rather than endorsing anyone outright. That's because both espouse certain "pro-life" stances, according to co-founder Alissa Golob.

In a written statement, Leslie said he is "pro-life" and attacked Bernier as a parachute candidate.

"Maxime Bernier will say and do whatever he thinks people want to hear in order to get attention. He is pretending to be a social conservative, even though his entire record as an MP was to support woke policies," Leslie said.

Bernier, meanwhile, continues to blast the federal Tories as "fake conservatives." His message to prospective supporters is to "give Maxime a chance."

"'If you don't like what I'm doing, if I'm not keeping my word, then just vote me out in 2025."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2023.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre takes part in the National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)

LIBERTARIAN FASCISM

Maxime Bernier part of group convicted of violating Sask. public safety rules

CBC
Sat, June 3, 2023 

A Regina provincial court judge has found Maxime Bernier, along with six others, guilty of violating Saskatchewan’s public health order after an anti-COVID-19 restrictions rally was held in Victoria Park in May 2021. (Jaison Empson/CBC - image credit)

The leader of the People's Party of Canada has been convicted of violating Saskatchewan's public safety rules in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his 26-page decision dated May 25, provincial court judge Murray Hinds found Maxime Bernier — a right-wing politician originally from Quebec — and six others guilty in connection with what was advertised as a "freedom rally" in Regina two years ago.

At the time, there was a public health order in effect banning outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people. The order, put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, was later repealed.

Police presented evidence that there were more than 200 people at the protest at the cenotaph in Victoria Park on May 8, 2021 and Bernier was among the promoted speakers.

More than a dozen people were ticketed at the time for attending the event.

PEACE, ORDER AND GOOD GOVERNMENT (POGG)

At one point, defence lawyer Elaine Anderson argued her clients' charges were a violation of their charter right to peaceful assembly.

However, Justice Hinds rejected that argument late last year, ruling the public health order "is not unconstitutionally vague nor is it overbroad."

About 9% of adults in 30 countries identify as LGBTQ, survey says

Story by Meron Moges-Gerbi • Yesterday 

About 9% of adults across 30 countries around the world identify as LGBTQ, according to a new Ipsos poll.

The survey released Thursday indicates Millennials and Gen Zers are more likely to identify as queer, bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, or asexual than older generations.

Respondents included more than 22,514 adults under the age of 75 in 30 countries who answered the survey online between February 17 and March 3.

Nicolas Boyon, senior vice president of research and communications at Ipsos, told CNN the survey shows there are commonalities across countries, including widespread respect for LGBTQ+ rights because more people have interactions with them.

“Globally, we see an increase compared to two years ago in the proportion of people who have a relative or a friend or a coworker, who is either gay or lesbian, or bisexual or trans or non-binary,” Boyon said.

Among the countries surveyed, the survey shows more than half of respondents said they support same-sex marriage where it is legal.

In 30 countries, about 56% said same-sex couples should be allowed to marry legally while 16% say they should be allowed to obtain some legal recognition, but not to marry. Women are also significantly more likely than men to support same-sex marriage, the survey said.

The majority of respondents in 26 countries said same-sex couples are as likely to raise children successfully as other parents, according to the survey.

Boyon told CNN he was surprised there was more support for transgender people in countries like Thailand, Italy, and Spain compared with the United States, Eastern Europe, and Great Britain.

“In the US, we see generally less support for a variety of protections or measures than we see in many other countries. For example, allowing people to use public facilities according to the gender they identify with. There is also less support for the health insurance to cover the costs of transition the same way as other medical procedures,” Boyon said.

Logan Brown, a pregnant transgender man, is on the cover of 'Glamour' magazine. 'I do exist,' he says — and so do others.


David Artavia
Fri, June 2, 2023 

Logan Brown is opening up about the experiences of being a pregnant trans man, and the hurdles he's jumped through in the health care system. (Photo: Glamour UK)

A pregnant transgender man is making history by appearing on the cover of Glamour UK's latest issue.

Logan Brown, a 27-year-old writer, posed while expecting his first child and opened up to the magazine about his experience. "I am a trans pregnant man and I do exist," Brown said. "I am literally living proof."

The publication wrote that it decided to feature Brown because it seeks to celebrate "the allyship that exists between women (cisgender or not) and transgender people through our shared experiences — in particular pregnancy, health care and childbirth — something that is not often talked about with regard to the transgender community."

“Being pregnant, in general, is really, really difficult. Then add me being trans," he said of the challenges he faced. "No one's actually turned around to me and said, 'Are you OK?' No one's asked what it feels like to be a trans pregnant man."

Brown also admitted to receiving "hateful messages" from people online who claimed that men can't get pregnant.

"This thing about 'men can't get pregnant' is that I would not identify as anything else just because I found out I'm pregnant," he explained. "It's important for me to stay real with my identity. I am a pregnant man, and I am trans."

Yes, trans men can give birth

The truth is transgender men (those biologically born as female but identify as men) can give birth in the same way anyone with female reproductive organs — uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes — can. That includes conceiving from penetrative sex with someone with sperm or through assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Despite that fact, trans pregnancies are often overlooked in discussions about reproductive health due to sizable gaps in medical research and overall education, notes Dr. Juno Obedin-Maliver, assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

"None of our systems have been designed to delineate the difference between somebody's gender and somebody's pregnancy capacity," Obedin-Maliver told Yahoo Life in January. According to a February Gallup survey on identity, 1 in 10 LGBTQ adults living in the United States identify as transgender (close to 2.3 million people). And while there is no comprehensive data on how many have given birth, or are considering IVF, Obedin-Maliver says it's more common than people would expect.

One of the reasons behind the lack of data, she notes, is that medical systems fall behind in understanding the nuances of trans male pregnancies. In most cases, birthing parents are marked as "female" on the child's birth certificate, by default, even when it's not always accurate (and without the consent of the parents). That makes it difficult to have a full picture.

Change is happening — slowly

Medical organizations like the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine are helping to bridge the gap in medical knowledge around trans male pregnancies, thanks in large part to a growing number of trans dads who've shared their stories online to implement wider change — including with the hashtag #seahorsedad, which has nearly 382 million posts on TikTok.

"The research is out there," Dr. Devon Ojeda, senior national organizer for National Center for Transgender Equality, explained to Yahoo Life. "The health care system has to completely change the way they see preventative care beyond the gender binary."

As for Brown, who has since given birth to a baby girl named Nova, whom he shares with his partner, TikToker Bailey Mills, he hopes his story can pave the way for other trans men who wish to carry their own children. That itself is worth the battle scars.

"If something is being talked about, then something's changing, something's happening and we're getting somewhere," he told Glamour UK. "At least it's being talked about, because back in the day, it was never talked about at all."

Isis King is taking Hollywood by storm, from 'America's Next Top Model,' to Prime Video's 'With Love'

One of the first openly trans women on TV, King reflects on her "uphill battle" as an actor and stopping the pattern of seeking approval in the "wrong places"


Elisabetta Bianchini
Thu, June 1, 2023 

Isis King (Charlie Nunn Photography)

From a groundbreaking appearance as an openly trans woman on America's Next Top Model, to roles in shows like When They See Us, The L Word: Generation Q and Prime Video's With Love, actor Isis King is taking Hollywood by storm.

Teasing the upcoming second season of With Love (premiering June 2), King highlighted that her character Sol will see some significant life changes, particularly making the shift from a resident to a doctor, in addition to personal relationships.

“I'm excited for Season 2 because it's different life events,” King told Yahoo Canada. “You kind of get to see the family and friends, and different scenarios and situations.”

“Season 2 is going to be awesome because in Season 1, Sol was a resident oncologist and for the next season, Sol becomes a doctor, and you can kind of, in a way I guess, see their life change, see the budget change for Sol. Their life is different, I felt like the look is different. Sol is a little bit more elegant and now, they're in a relationship, the friends bugged them enough to step it up. So I just feel like Sol is even a little bit more glamorous, if I can say.”

When Season 1 of With Love dropped, it was often referred to as "unapologetically queer" and King praised the show's creator, Gloria Calderón Kellett, for telling a story where a trans, non-binary character, like Sol, is actually able to hold the position of a successful, highly educated and skilled doctor.

“Being a successful trans, non-binary person, I feel like that's not something we usually get to see," King said. "So I love that Sol has that perspective with everything we're doing. To have a successful career, the love, the family, the friends, they have it all. So I think that kind of really grounds them and helps them to be kind of the voice of reason for a lot of the family.”

“Being on this show with so many queer people and with someone like Gloria, ... it just allows you to feel safe, and allows you to explore and to come to work, and really play and explore the characters. Also just feel like you're in a comfortable environment with people who care about you. I think it just allowed me to relax into the character and vulnerable moments, to feel safe and protected because of the people that were around me.”

While historically, a lot of roles written and made available for trans actors have been for trauma-based narratives and characters, King also stressed that With Love opens up that storytelling for trans characters.

“I definitely think because there have not been that many opportunities, people still want to see it, unfortunately,” King said. “I feel like we should have both.”

“I feel like people should be able to see those raw, gritty stories, that kind of just shows the real life of so many trans people, especially trans people of colour, especially Black trans women, specifically. ... But at the same time, we also deserve to see those lighter stories that are about magical powers and finding love, and just normal people doing normal things that are not trauma-based. So I feel like there's room for all of it and I think that With Love shows that it's possible to have it. Don't get me wrong, this season you're going to see some drama with Sol, ... but I definitely think there’s room for both.”

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Model Isis King and iSupermodel, America's Next Top Model Miss J. Alexander attend the GLSEN 2018 Respect Awards at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 21, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for GLSEN)

'Everyone deserves to see themselves represented and it literally is that simple'

Many people first saw King on the eleventh cycle of America’s Next Top Model in 2008, largely considered a watershed moment where she was one of the first openly trans women on TV.

Looking back at her entire career, King recognizes that much of what she accomplished was "before its time."

“I had so many opportunities to be seen, but they weren't really paid or when they were it was extremely lowball,” King revealed. “So it made it really difficult, but I kind of just kept going and juggled jobs along the way.”

“I never wanted to give up because I feel like I personally contributed so much of myself in a public format during an era where it wasn't accepted, really, and there were not really opportunities for trans people out there.”

She added that establishing her acting career has been an "uphill battle," since she left Top Model, but in terms of there being dynamic, complex, meaty roles for trans actors that don't necessary portray trans people with a monolithic view, King said we're "slowly" making strides.

“It’s slowly but surely happening, but it's still really, really, really, small, really rare,” King said. “There's still a lot of work.”

“Everyone deserves to see themselves represented and it literally is that simple. We all deserve representation and every storyline doesn't have to be ‘oh, let me come out.’ What if the sergeant is trans? What if the mermaid is trans? What if the doctor is trans? Just because we're not exploring them talking about that, doesn't mean that the character is not trans. … We're not objects. We're not creatures. We're in your everyday world.”

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: (L-R) Isis King, Harvey Guillén, and Raven-Symoné attend the GLAAD Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton on March 30, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for GLAAD)

Amid the celebration of shows like With Love, it's difficult to avoid governments attacking human rights, targeting the LGBTQ+ community, including anit-trans bills in the U.S.

It's these actions that, as King stressed, makes having trans characters visible in entertainment even more critical.

“It's very frightening,” King said. “I think it's really important, so many people don't know someone trans in real life and sometimes the only experience they have with someone trans might be on TV, and in the media.”

“So if that representation isn't there, how will they knowhow to interact? … That's why it's also important to show us as we are in real life. We do have these careers, so it's important to say ‘oh, that's a trans person, they're just like me. They deserve love and happiness, support and career and family, and to not be discriminated against.’”

Looking forward in her career, King believes that she's only cracked the surface of her possibilities.

“I love that I'm loved and supported the way I have been, but … I'm just starting to make a dent and to create a name for myself as an actress, even after all these years that I've been trying to push into the industry," King said.

“I've always wanted to do action. I would love to be a leading lady myself in a rom-com and I really want some powers. … I've grown up a comic book fan and I just want to kick butt, I want to be like Cameron, Lucy and Drew in a Charlie’s Angels-type of project.”

For anyone looking at King, identifying with her and hoping to be able to achieve similar success, the actor's advice is to "bet on yourself."

“I think a lot of my career was me focusing on looking for approval, maybe it even comes from being on reality TV and a model in a competition where you're literally looking for approval," King said. “I looked for approval in all the wrong places, … from bosses and relationships, which opened me up to the wrong type of people and really abusive situations."

"I feel like the only approval I really needed was from myself, as cliche as it sounds. So just bet on yourself and just follow your heart and believe in yourself, because the quicker you do that, the further you'll get. … It could take many years but as long as you believe in yourself and keep going, it's possible.”

'Dangerous' anti-trans policies are sweeping the U.S. Is Canada next?

LIBERTARIAN FASCISM

While Canada is no Florida, a platform released by the People's Party of Canada has raised concerns among members of the LGBTQ+ community

Elianna Lev
Thu, June 1, 2023 

A transfeminist activist and jurist from Quebec has gone viral on Instagram for raising the alarm on a dangerous new anti-trans platform released by the People's Party of Canada.

Celeste Trianon's post has been shared almost 15,000 times and has garnered heated discussion, including nearly 400 comments.



The post, an eight-image gallery outlining the Maxime Bernier-led far-right party's policy on "radical gender ideology" in both English and French, warns of the PPC's eyebrow-raising platform. On its website, the PPC claims transgender people have an "evil agenda" and are planning to "destroy" society with the help of the "woke far left and all establishment parties."

The plan includes modifying the Criminal Code to outlaw the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and any form of bodily mutilation on minors with the goal of “transitioning” to another sex, as well as forbidding “biological men” from entering women’s bathrooms, shelters, prisons and change rooms.

It echoes similar moves taking place in the United States, including most publicly in Florida, which has been under the spotlight recently for passing several bills that directly target queer and trans communities.

These include a ban on sexual orientation and gender identity materials in classrooms, also known as the "Don't Say Gay" law, and a ban on transgender women and girls taking part in school sports consistent with their gender identity.

Demonstrators gather to speak on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in front of the Florida State Capitol, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida House Republicans advanced a bill, dubbed by opponents as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, to forbid discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, rejecting criticism from Democrats who said the proposal demonizes LGBTQ people. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)More

While some in the comments of Trianon's post downplay the threat of a party that has no elected seats, she warns that it's dangerous to be complacent.

"For those who say it's an American problem, it's not," Trianon tells Yahoo News Canada. "It's very local as well."

Trianon says this kind of policy sets an extremely dangerous precedent and directly targets the trans community.

“This is going to send a very strong message to Canadians that trans Canadians are not worthy of protection,” she says. “This is an anti-freedom policy from a party that’s promoted freedom for so long.”

When she posted about the PPC's policy on LinkedIn, the party responded in the comments, telling her to "read to whole statement before jumping to conclusions."

"They don't even think that this is anti-trans, which is the most horrifying part," she says. "They're not even aware of what they're doing."

Trianon says the PPC introducing this kind of platform is tapping into many people’s fears about gender non-conformity and gender roles by targeting an already marginalized group. She urges Canadians voting in the next election to do so with human rights at the top of mind.

“If you vote against human rights, you might be the next human targeted,” Trianon says.

While the PPC won no seats in the 2021 election — even leader Bernier could not win his Beauce riding — more than 840,000 Canadians voted for the party, almost 5 per cent of all votes. It had more than tripled its support from just two years prior.

This is going to send a very strong message to Canadians that trans Canadians are not worthy of protection.

Where do Canada's political parties stand on LGBTQ+ issues?

The anti-trans policy announcement from the PPC has some reexamining where the other main political parties stand on issues that impact the freedom and safety of the LGBTQ+ community.

Wilbur Turner is the chair and founder of Advocacy Canada, a Canadian advocacy group for queer and trans communities. He spoke to Yahoo Canada News about Canada's political parties' track records on LGBTQ+ issues.
NDP

On the NDP website, the party devotes an entire section to upholding LGBTQ+ rights, which includes increasing access to gender affirming procedures and medication.

Turner says the NDP have always been very supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.

“There’s definitely no concerns or question marks with regards to where they stand,” he says. “They’ve been supportive. Whenever there’s been a vote with regards to any kind of rights, like the bill to protect trans rights in the criminal code, they’ve always been in favour. They have a good track record of supporting the community.”

Liberal Party

The Liberals' website highlights the party's record in fighting for LGBTQ+ rights throughout history, which includes decriminalizing homosexuality in 1969, and the enactment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, which protects all Canadians from discrimination.

Turner credits the Liberals for having a “really great track record” on LGBTQ+ issues.

“They’ve done a lot of things to help out the community,” he says.

Turner says the Liberal government is loud on the world stage when it comes to rights being eroded in other countries, including Uganda, which recently signed one of the world’s most severe anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law.

However, he admits there are some things the Liberals promised that took a long time to get done, like a review of blood donation guidelines, which banned men who have sex with men from giving blood.

“There’s been lots of promises made and for the most part those have been kept,” Turner says. “(The Liberals) have been the ones supporting things that have changed, in terms of laws protecting trans people. We even saw the prime minster in his first year in office marching in pride parades.”

"There’s always more to be done," Turner adds. "Going back to what’s happening with regards to oppression and discrimination against the queer community, I think the Liberals need to step up and be very loud about this."


Conservative Party

The Conservative's 2021 recovery plan, under then-leader Erin O'Toole, stressed the party's commitment to fundamental human rights. It vowed to advocate for persecuted sexual minorities and pledged that a Conservative government would "speak clearly and confidently for the inalienable human dignity of LGBTQ people and deploy resources to help their activists." The party promised to make the Rainbow Refugee Assistance Project a permanent government program.

However, Turner says he’d give the Conservatives a big question mark when it comes to their platform on LGBTQ+ issues, as a result of their mixed messages coming from within the party.

“Overall they have the message that they’re supportive, but then there are people in the party that behave otherwise, so it makes us very concerned if there was ever a Conservative government and it depends on who the leader is and what kind of voices they have in caucus to what might happen,” he says.

Some examples include:

Former leader Andrew Scheer refused to comment on his stance on same-sex marriage when leader of the party, even though he had spoken against it in the past.

62 Conservative party members voted against banning conversion therapy in the third reading of the bill in 2021.

Kelowna-Lake Country CPC MP lashed out at the LGBTQ+ community after being banned from attending Pride.

Turner says it’s a sign that the reality of what the queer and trans community faces isn’t always represented in those politicians, especially when party members have a long history of voting against any bills related to the LGBTQ+ community.

Green Party

The Green Party states under its values section its respect for diversity, which includes "recognition of and respect for sexual minorities" and "equality between people of all genders in all spheres of social, economic, political and cultural life."

Turner says that although the Green party isn’t well represented across Canada, for the most part there hasn’t been anything from the party that causes him concern.

“I haven’t seen any red flags that would leave me alarmed,” he says.

'We're safe nowhere': New anti-trans policy announcement by Canada's PPC sparks fears

People's Party of Canada's policy announcement on radical gender ideology is raising concerns

Corné van Hoepen
·Contributor, Yahoo News Canada
May 26, 2023·

An LGBTQ activist holds a sign reading "Trans People Just Want to Live" during a protest on March 17, 2023, in front of the US Consulate in Montreal, Canada, calling for transgender and non-binary people be admitted into Canada. - According to police services, some 200 people gathered in the rain to show support for the trans community in the United States. (Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV/AFP via Getty Images) (ANDREJ IVANOV via Getty Images)More

A new policy announced by the leader of the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) in Manitoba on Tuesday is sparking fears among LGBTQ2S communities across the nation.

Speaking at a press event in Winkler, Man., Party Leader Maxime Bernier announced a new policy which takes aim at radical gender ideology.

“With the active support of the woke far left and all establishment parties, radical trans activists are trying to transform society in a way that curtails everyone’s freedoms,” Bernier said during the press conference. “This radical agenda, which contradicts basic biological realities, is proving particularly harmful to women and children.”

The policy lays out a seven-point plan, which includes:

Modifying the Criminal Code to outlaw the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and any form of bodily mutilation on minors with the goal of “transitioning” to another sex

Protecting women’s spaces – bathrooms, changing rooms, shelters, and prisons – from “intrusion by biological men”

Abolishing federal programs that fund sex change operations for civil servants and prisoners

Removing the ban imposed by Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), on helping minors who suffer from gender dysphoria accept their body

Strictly enforcing section 163.1(1)(b) of the Criminal Code in order to remove inappropriate pornographic content from schools and libraries, which Action4Canada defines as sexually explicit and pornographic books that are being made available to children via schools and public libraries

Maintaining separate competitions for women in which “biological men” cannot participate in sports regulated and funded by the federal government

Repealing Bill C-16, which makes gender self-identification grounds for protection against discrimination

Should Canadians be concerned?

Though the PPC only won 820,000 votes, making up five per cent of the popular vote during the 2021 federal election, experts say that the rise in popularity of the party, which holds far-right values, cannot be ignored.

Historically, Bernier has denied ties and affiliations to far-right groups and white nationalists, despite his public stance on reducing immigration and scrapping the Multiculturalism Act.

A more concerning incident involving the PPC is a report by Press Progress, which exposed PPC candidate Mario Greco for allegedly creating a video game in which users were able shoot caricatures of minorities and LGBTQ2S people.

The idea used to be that Canada was immune to sort of far-right populism

Tamara Small, University of Guelph professor of political science

"I think lots of people are wondering, if he's [Bernier] just going to say ‘I'm not here to form government…I'm more here to challenge the system’” as a way of gaining support," Small said in a previous interview with media.

Where concerns are growing is the rise of anti-LGBTQ2S ideologies and hate speech instances occurring in Canada, which seem to reflect conversations and bills being passed in the United States.

During 2023, movements fuelled by national anti-LGBTQ2S group legislators across the United States have overridden the recommendations of the American medical establishments. They introduced hundreds of bills that target transgender and non-binary youth’s access to age-appropriate, medically-necessary care, according to the Non-Government Organization (NGO) Human Rights Campaign.

Public Response

"If you think that we're safe in Canada: this is the final straw. We're not," wrote Celeste Trianon in a statement posted to Instagram.

"We are only one election away from having our healthcare, civil liberties, and ability to live in public stolen away. We're one election away from becoming Florida. If the Conservatives adopt said platform, all our human rights will be gone. In a snap."


Other social media users chimed in expressing their concerns on how this policy has the potential to harm LGBTQ2S communities in Canada and others slammed Bernier for his views.

While some expressed that the current "woke" climate of Canada is "taking things too far", many couldn’t defend the policy spewing hateful thoughts.


Some organizations are asking Canadians to support the LGBTQ2S community.


"I'm greatly scared — this is why I feel like I gotta hide, we're safe nowhere.." shared one Instagram user in the comment section of Celeste Trianon's post above.

Another user commented "I have close friends in Florida, and they are making an exit plan to leave there, and they told me that they're thinking of moving to Canada and I was wondering if it was just as bad there as it is here."

The policy announced by the PPC is one held within the party, and does not reflect any bill of law within Canadian Parliament currently.

In a tweet posted in March 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged his ongoing support to those within all facets of the LGBTQ2S community.

"With a disturbing rise in anti-transgender hate here in Canada and around the world recently, I want to be very clear about one more thing: Trans women are women. We will always stand up to this hate – whenever and wherever it occurs," the prime minister tweeted.

CULTURE WAR

Why the Far-Right Is Targeting Target

The beloved big-box store has found itself in the crosshairs of a very-online, anti-LGBTQ contingent


BY CT JONES

ROLLING STONE
MAY 27, 2023

ILLUSTRATION BY GRIFFIN LOTZ. IMAGES IN ILLUSTRATION BY ADOBE STOCK, 2


TARGET HAS LONG carried LGBTQ Pride-themed merchandise for the month of June. Sure, they’ve received some angry comments from the right, or even been called out as cringe by the left. But this year — as LGBTQ organizers brace for a particularly hate-filled Pride — Target began receiving intense backlash. Then, following intense scrutiny from conservative outlets and waves of online misinformation, the company decided to remove some of the items from their collection, as well as reposition the goods further back in some Southern stores.

The big-box store has become a beloved destination not just because of its fun, red-and-white aesthetic, but because it welcomes shoppers to peruse the aisles endlessly, Starbucks-in-hand. It’s a safe-haven for white America, the pinnacle of suburban luxury and middle-class comfort. Now, that deep identification has turned into anger, with people feeling that their sanctuary has been taken over. So it’s no surprise that corporate assurances, and this latest surrender, haven’t done anything to calm people down. Instead, experts tell Rolling Stone, Target’s attempt to appease the detractors — before Pride month has even begun — could actually encourage new intimidation tactics from extreme far-right groups and conservative figureheads.

At the start of May, Target rolled out its annual Pride collection, a series of apparel, accessories, and and various other goods celebrating the LGBTQ community and June’s pride month. In addition to Target-branded items, the collection also includes “community created” picks, items designed and created by LGBTQ-owned brands. Erik Carnell, a trans designer and creator of London-based apparel line Abprallen, announced on May 9 that he had designed several items, including a colorful tote bag, fanny pack, and sweatshirt, sporting phrases like “We belong everywhere,” “Too queer for here,” and “Cure transphobia, not trans people.”

“I wanted to ensure that any young people who saw Abprallen in Target would know that who they are is beautiful, purposeful, and worth expressing,” Carnell said in May. “I wanted to create a range that would embrace younger me and tell him that who he is is more than OK, that being trans is special and wonderful and that the closet is not made for him to thrive in.”

But after conservatives found Carnell’s Instagram, thousands of people took umbrage with the brand’s use of occult imagery (skeletons, witches, satan horns, all set against pastel backgrounds), accusing the artist of trying to indoctrinate or “groom” children. “We did it with Bud Light,” far-right pundit and famous transphobe Matt Walsh said on his show. “Now it’s Target’s turn.”

Over the past two weeks, the hashtag #boycotttarget has grown to 24.6 million views on TikTok. The misplaced outrage continued after online rumors spread that the Pride collection included swimsuits for transgender children. While Target did have suits marketed as “tuck-friendly” and “Extra Crotch Coverage,” the options were only carried in adult sizes and placed in adult sections of the store. While some of the children’s swimsuit options were more gender neutral, those tags only read “Thoughtfully Fit on Multiple Body Types and Gender Expressions.”

But there’s also a larger reason why the shopping center has become such a focal point. For many middle class white Americans, Target isn’t just a store. It’s a place to congregate, to spend ludicrous amounts of money. It’s both a necessity and an activity in its own right — and a signifier about the type of voter, shopper, and parent you are. According to data from analytics firm Numerator, the average Target shoppers are white suburban mothers between 35 and 44 years old, with annual incomes around $80,000. And in common videos that reference the boycott, (mainly) white women complain about having to find a new place to spend “$500 a week” while sipping their coffee.

Since 2019, the company’s revenue has grown by over $30 billion. And it’s why, according to Americus Reed, a professor of marketing at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, when people are confronted with products that are inconsistent with their brand’s perceived worldview, it can inspire instant backlash.

“Target has had a tremendous rebranding effort over the last three decades with respect to becoming more upscale,” Reed tells Rolling Stone. “Brands [want] to make self expressive connections to their products and to their services. And that if that’s done properly, that can create a sense of identity and deeper loyalty. In fact, the great brands are able to transcend what they do, in terms of the functional features, and are able to actually become something more symbolic.”

While Target’s holy place in white America explains why conservative consumers have been so quick to voice their displeasure, experts say small victories — even to protect employees from harassment, as Target stated when it dropped the products — could have a “chilling effect” on brands’ interactions with Pride month going forward. And with the company’s recent and immediate submissions in the face of minor outrage, Target might have unintentionally given itself a new likeness — the store that gives in, and gives up.

“By Target bending in this way so early in the process, they are signaling a capitulation and making it potentially more dangerous for LGBTQ+ people,” Michael Edison Hayden, a spokesperson for the Southern Poverty Law Center, tells Rolling Stone. “You are saying to the LGBTQ+ population, ‘We have your back. We are interested in your business and we celebrate you.’ And then when you back down out of pressure, you leave those people exposed and you leave them vulnerable. It’s worse than having not done it in first place.”

“Purpose-driven marketing is not for the faint of heart,” Reed adds. “If you’re going to do this, then you have to take a stand and you have to go all in.