Latest news with #nonbinary
CBC
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Cities across Canada are celebrating the final weekend of Pride 2025
Cities across the country are getting ready for the final weekend of Pride parades. Pride Toronto said this year's ceremonies are focused on the transgender and nonbinary community. Toronto's Pride celebration is the second largest in the world and attracts millions each year.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
Toronto charity no longer resettling 2SLGBTQ+ refugees in U.S. since Trump took office
Sitting in their Toronto apartment with their new partner, Rahma Esslouani says this past year has been the first time they've truly felt free. Esslouani, a 32-year-old nonbinary lesbian, grew up in Morocco, where homosexuality is a crime. In addition to fears of harassment and persecution, they say they faced overwhelming pressure at home to be more traditionally feminine. Their family would try to control their clothing and activities, they say, and in 2019, they tried to force them to marry a man, locking them in a closet and beating them when they refused. That's when Esslouani fled to Turkey, but they say things were no better there. "It was very hard to be myself," they said. Although homosexuality isn't illegal in Turkey, they say they faced the same violence and persecution and were still arrested for their sexual orientation. They say they were released after about a month, and decided to flee again, reaching out in 2023 to several organizations for help. Last year, Esslouani was one of over 300 2SLGBTQ+ refugees from 36 nations who were relocated with the help of Rainbow Railroad, a Toronto-based international charity that offers support to queer and trans people facing persecution around the world. "Now I'm trying to just focus on the future," said Esslouani, who is now in a relationship with a woman and settling into their life in Canada. "I am proud to openly go outside, to hold my partner's hand," they said. "That's something that I was dreaming of and it's something that … I didn't [think] that I would live it." Most Rainbow Railroad refugees come to Canada and are relocated through a special partnership with the federal government that was just renewed this year until the end of 2029, says Devon Matthews, head of programs for the charity. But the Canadian program is capped at 250 people a year and demand is high. Queer and trans people face state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia in more than 60 countries, Matthews says, and Rainbow Railroad received over 13,000 requests for help last year and over 9,000 already in 2025. In recent years, Rainbow Railroad sent a growing number of refugees to the U.S., but Matthews says that's stopped since U.S. President Donald Trump took office. "We're absolutely, really watching and really concerned about the rights rollback that's happening right now," she said. Pathways to U.S. closed for 2SLGBTQ+ refugees On his first day in the White House, Trump suspended the U.S. refugee assistance program used by Rainbow Railroad and issued an executive order to stop permitting refugees until it "aligns with the interests of the United States." His order said it would be U.S. policy "to admit only those refugees who can fully and appropriately assimilate" into the country. At that time, the charity already had 70 people pre-approved for resettlement in the U.S., Matthews says. Some people were only two to three weeks from being on a plane. It's forced the charity to shift gears. "What we're trying to do is make sure that this group of people who have been left stranded by the current administration, are able to be safe and build better lives here in Canada," she said. But Matthews says they'll have to start over at the bottom of the queue. Meanwhile, she says, "these people are in incredibly terrible circumstances" with fewer pathways out. "We have so few options. And the options that we had to resettle people in the United States were incredible," she said. "It's tragic." Rainbow Railroad still supporting refugees already in U.S. On top of that, Rainbow Railroad is now receiving requests from 2SLGBTQ+ Americans looking for help relocating, with over 1,200 inquiries coming in on Nov. 6, 2024 alone — the day after Trump was elected. Rainbow Railroad is continuing to support refugees who've already resettled to the U.S., Matthews says. That includes a 30-year-old gay man whom Rainbow Railroad relocated to Chicago from El Salvador just before the start of Trump's second presidency. CBC Toronto is not identifying the man, who is concerned his comments might affect his immigration status. The man says he still feels some hostility toward him in the U.S., as a Latino and a gay man, but ultimately moving to Chicago has been a healing experience that's allowed him to express his sexuality freely. He says he's heartbroken the path he took is now closed to others. "When I think of another person who cannot have that opportunity to change their life, it's so sad for me," he said.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: We live in a country where acts of sabotage by thugs are tolerated by the authorities to further 'politically correct' causes - and this is why Keir Starmer is to blame
Ladies, gentlemen, and those of you who define as trans, non-binary, intersex or any other of the 327 genders officially recognised, and indeed celebrated, my name is Keir Starmer and I appear for the defence in this case. 'My client has pleaded Not Guilty to the charges before this court: that he did knowingly and deliberately break into the RAF base with intent to set fire to an aircraft.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sam Smith puts on a quirky display in purple shorts and loafers as they enjoy a solo summer stroll through the streets of New York
Sam Smith put on a quirky display in purple shorts and loafers as they enjoyed a solo summer stroll through the streets of New York on Friday. The singer, 32, showcased their unique sense of style as they stepped out in sport shorts and a black vest top. They paired their relaxed look with black leather slip on flats and black socks as they seemed to enjoy some music during their walk. To accessorise the performer kept a low profile in a pair of black tinted sunglasses which they paired with a cap worn backwards and their expertly groomed moustache. Earlier this year Sam and singer Kesha supported their fashion designer boyfriend, Christian Cowan as he debuted his fall/winter 2025 collection at NYFW. They have been dating since 2022 after meeting when Christian collaborated with Sam on the costumes for their music video, I'm Not Here to Make Friends. Christian, whose clientele includes A-list stars Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B and Heidi Klum, confirmed his romance with Sam with a kiss in January 2023 as the two walked together arm-in-arm in New York. It marks Sam's first public relationship since their split from 13 Reasons Why actor Brandon Flynn, 30, and after they came out as non-binary in 2019. In 2019, Sam revealed that they identify as non-binary and asked to be addressed by the pronouns they/them instead of he/him. Sam wrote on Instagram at the time: 'After a lifetime of being at war with my gender I've decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out.' Speaking about their gender, Sam added: 'I'm not male or female, I think I flow somewhere in between. It's all on the spectrum.' The singer, known for hits Dancing With a Stranger, Too Good At Goodbyes and 2015 Bond track Writing's on the Wall, also said they are open to dating whomever they fall in love with. 'I generally have never really thought about people, any human beings, in rigid terms,' they shared. 'I've grown up in a family where the gender power balance and all these things were completely shifted. 'My mum worked, my dad was a househusband. 'My sisters are incredibly strong women.' As well as their romance with Brandon Flynn, Sam also dated Jonathan Zeizel and thanked the model for 'breaking their heart' because it led to four Grammy wins. Sam penned the track Stay With Me following their split and later vowed never to 'fall in love again with someone who doesn't love me back'.
Daily Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Telegraph
AFLW star Tilly Lucas-Rodd ‘so happy' after gender-affirming top surgery
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFLW. Followed categories will be added to My News. AFLW star Tilly Lucas-Rodd has revealed they are 'so happy' and feel so much like themselves after having gender-affirming top surgery during the off-season. The 29-year-old Hawthorn star is the league's first current player to undergo the surgery - which removes breast tissue in a similar way to a double mastectomy - and said they feel so much more comfortable. 'People often have asked me, 'How do I feel now that I've had it' - post-surgery, seeing myself,' Lucas-Rodd, who identifies as non-binary, told ABC Sport. '... for me, it was like, 'this is how I've always looked when I saw myself' … This is what I've always thought and always seen internally.' AFLW star Tilly Lucas-Rodd says they are 'so happy' after undergoing gender affirming top surgery. Picture: Instagram/tillylr Prior to the surgery, Lucas-Rodd was taping or binding their chest and wearing a guernsey multiple sizes too large in order to reduce dysphoria. This practice however, was causing issues, sometimes restricting breathing and movement, and creating back pain. Since returning to training, however, Lucas-Rodd said they are relishing the freedom of not needing a sports bra or chest bindings. 'Going out onto the track in our training guernseys or our singlets, I just feel so, so happy and so just like me,' they said. 'I had huge discomfort around my chest, huge dysphoria. It didn't match up with what I felt internally I should look like.' The halfback came out publicly as non-binary in 2023, saying at the time that they 'don't really identify strongly as my assigned gender at birth, which is female.' 'I don't really feel strongly that I fit into that label as a female, and at the same time I don't feel like I'm a male, either. I guess I'm in between that,' they said in a video shared on the Hawthorn website. 'So for me, the label 'non-binary' feels most comfortable about how I identify in terms of my gender.' Lucas-Rodd said they feel more comfortable and like themselves since returning to training. Picture: Instagram/tillylr The Hawthorn player identifies as non-binary. Picture: Instagram/tillylr Two other AFLW players, Carlton star Darcy Vescio and former Gold Coast player Tori Groves-Little, also identify as non-binary, and two former players have undergone gender-reaffirming top surgery since leaving the league. Lucas-Rodd spoke to their Hawthorn teammates about the surgery when returning to training and said they were met with 'such love and acceptance'. While opening themselves up to public commentary by sharing their story has been nerve-racking, Lucas-Rodd said they hope to help others in a similar position. 'It's also to show gender diverse and trans people that there is a place for them in sport,' they said. 'Coming out publicly with top surgery, people will say and do what they want, but I'm trying to show people that no matter what gender you are, no matter how you express that, no matter anything about you, that you belong in sport and you belong in sport at a professional and elite level. 'That's a big thing for me … being like regardless of your gender and how you express that, there is this place for you in sport.' Since sharing their ABC Sport interview on Instagram, Lucas-Rodd has recieved many messages of support, including from Aussie musician G Flip who said, 'Hells yeah Tilly,' and Wentworth star Zoe Terakes, who shared a series of strong arm and love heart emojis. Originally published as AFLW star Tilly Lucas-Rodd 'so happy' after gender-affirming top surgery
