Ottawa, Canada – The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) issued a warning about the potential for extremists to incite serious violence against the 2SLGBTQI+ community. The agency stated that this threat is likely to persist throughout the upcoming year. The warning comes amid heated debates across the country over gender-affirming surgeries and pronoun preferences.
CSIS spokesperson Eric Balsam emphasized the agency’s assessment that the violent threat posed by the anti-gender movement is expected to continue. This assessment was based on the attack at the University of Waterloo, where a former student is facing 11 terrorism charges for attacking a gender-studies class with a knife last summer.
The agency highlighted the connection between violent rhetoric within the anti-gender movement and the potential for serious acts of violence. This assessment was based on a document drafted by the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre (ITAC), which revealed that the centre was monitoring the potential for an attack or violent assaults at Pride celebrations, parades, and nightclubs across the country.
The document also noted that members of the trans and drag communities in Canada have been the targets of online threats and real-world intimidation tactics in recent months. ITAC further warned that individuals who embrace religiously-motivated violent extremism in Canada continue to view members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community as desirable targets.
In response to the warning, Alessandro Iachelli, executive director of Fierté Canada Pride, expressed his dismay, stating that the warnings are disheartening but not surprising. He raised concerns about the heightened risk for 2SLGBTQI+ people, particularly in light of recent provincial policies on gender-affirming care and preferred pronouns.
The issue has sparked emotional debates in Alberta, where Premier Danielle Smith announced plans to implement policies affecting transgender and non-binary youth and adults, including bans on hormone therapy and restrictions on transgender women’s participation in sports leagues.
CSIS Director David Vigneault voiced his concerns about the sharp uptick in hate crimes and violent extremist threats directed at the 2SLGBTQI+ community during a public address. He highlighted the agency’s alarm over the increase in hateful rhetoric and its potential to incite violence.
The warnings from CSIS serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the 2SLGBTQI+ community, as well as the need for continued efforts to address and counteract these threats.