“Biology is there. We’re sexually dimorphic, biologically we’re either male or female, but we’re taught in schools that’s not the case; that we’re shaping gender and that’s extremely damaging,” Boschy said. “The belief that boys can be girls and girls can be boys is not a belief shared by the majority of society,” Boschy added. Boschy, Ottawa Carleton District School Board trustee candidate for Zone 6, is one of two candidates criticized by LGBTQ2S+ advocates for alleged transphobic comments on social media.
We were in a busy McDonalds on our way back from holiday. 1/2 dozen women in line for the bathroom. No waiting for people with penises. It made me wonder why anyone with a male body would struggle to get into the female line? — Shannon Boschy – 🐻OCDSB Candidate 2022 Zone 6 (@ShannonBDouglas) July 31, 2022 The other candidate receiving backlash for her tweets is Chanel Pfahl, the District 8 OCDSB trustee candidate.
Yes. Start planning now – about what you’ll say in 5 years when the kids you encouraged to take puberty blockers, take hormones and get surgery for their gender nonconformity wake up and realize they were wrong. https://t.co/tKWLzMWMSq — Chanel Pfahl for OCDSB admin 🇨🇦(@ChanLPfa) August 20, 2022 Both candidates frequently speak out against gender-affirming medical care, such as puberty blockers and reassignment surgery. “These views are harmful to adults who are transgender. I can’t imagine the impact it will have on OCDSB students who are transgender,” said Christian Wright, lead coordinator of Rainbow Ottawa. Both Pfahl and Boschy tell CTV News Ottawa they don’t believe gender identity should be taught in Ottawa schools. In an emailed statement, Pfahl wrote, “‘gender identity’ is a pseudoscientific concept that harms children — especially gender non-conforming children with some level of gender dysphoria, who are more sensitive to it ». But transgender activists say teaching about gender identity and creating safe spaces for students is vital to their well-being. “Transgender youth need affirmation, they need love, and they need nurturing to be successful, to be happy,” they added. The concerns come as a major US hospital says it faces online attacks for providing gender-affirming care. Boston Children’s Hospital says it has faced a “high volume” of threats of violence to provide this type of care. Boschy had previously tweeted questioning the care the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario provides to children with gender dysphoria.
These are signs the bubble is bursting – Former Director of Pediatric Gender Clinic at Toronto Sick Children’s Hospital with #CYA statement. Who’s next? @CHEO ? @AlexMunter time to cover your asses too. End the sterilization of vulnerable children in Canada. https://t.co/0zWnY0Jm3g — Shannon Boschy – 🐻OCDSB Candidate 2022 Zone 6 (@ShannonBDuglas) August 17, 2022 Health experts refute the criticism, saying children with gender dysphoria are at greater risk for mental health complications such as suicide and depression. Adding the care they provide is vital. “We can make the lives of these children and families better by getting them the care they need, other people can go about their business. It’s not their child,” said Dr. Jason Brophy, Infectious Diseases Physician at CHEO. “We should be talking about these issues in school, there’s no point in saying we shouldn’t, because the harms they’re talking about aren’t there, but the harms of not talking about it are,” Brophy. added.
