'Recent history is an example that our community has a reason to be very concerned about the use of this terminology by a campaigning federal party,' writes pflag York Region president BradfordToday and InnisfilToday welcome letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The Conservative Party platform has been updated to include “an end to the imposition of woke ideology in the federal civil service and in the allocation of federal funds for university research.” When pressed, Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has failed to provide specifics on what he means by “woke ideology.” “Woke ideology” and “anti-woke” vernacular are often associated in opposition to social progressive policies and positions. When the queer community hears this terminology, it’s hard not to begin to take that position as a personal attack and associate it with forms of transphobia, homophobia, racism, and other extreme forms of discrimination. The use of this term by a federal political party is incredibly disturbing. The use of this term has been used against our community, and in recent history, against transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals in hate-motivated speech and online campaigns of discrimination. They have also been used when referring to and crafting legislation restricting the freedom of self-determination in Saskatchewan and Alberta around gender-affirming care. Recent history is an example that our community has a reason to be very concerned about the use of this terminology by a campaigning federal party. We have contacted the Conservative Party a number of times, including MPs local to York Region, to address these various concerns both before and during this election campaign with no response. Without clarity, assumptions will be made by some in our community to assume the worst - that the Conservative Party is not interested in collaborating on solutions to queer-related issues and opportunities and are working to perpetuate and fan the flames of hate-motivated speech and discrimination. In Canada’s past, “woke ideology” was addressed in the public service with the covert questioning and punishment of LGBTQ+ identified employees. In contrast, within the last 10 years, the government performed a study on the Health of LGBTQIA2 Communities in Canada and in response, created an action plan to begin closing the gap on inequities our community faces across the country. Without specifics from the Conservative Party, we have no alternative but to fear that the progress made in recent history may regress back to the events of the past. If the Conservative Party wishes not to be associated with such a comparison, then they should provide the clarity our community, and many others are seeking. Tristan Coolman President, pflag York Region