LISA SALAZAR — BLOG

Hoping to Reclaim Empathy and Justice in a Polarized World...  In 2016, before Trump won his first term as POTUS, hope was rising—fueled by growing public support, inclusive policies, and increased representation in media and politics. The conversation around transgender rights was no longer on the fringe; it was becoming part of the national dialogue. Yet, the years since have been tumultuous. A rising tide of anti-trans rhetoric, legislation, and cultural backlash has made the journey toward inclusion and empathy more urgent than ever. The Escalating Crisis The state of emergency for transgender individuals has only intensified. Anti-trans voices, once fringe, have grown louder and more organized. Across North America and beyond, legislative attacks on gender-affirming healthcare, access to public spaces, and even the right to self-identify have escalated. The polarization surrounding trans rights is no longer confined to social misunderstandings—it is a coordinated effort to rol...

By Lisa Salazar Responding to the dumb questions asked by CTV News commissioned survey.  The recent story by CTV News,  "Trans your policies make majority of Canadians 'uncomfortable': Survey,"  based on a survey by Nanos Research, raises significant ethical and journalistic concerns. The survey's focus on Canadians' discomfort with trans-inclusive sports policies, hormone therapies for youth, and the acknowledgment of chosen pronouns and names in schools employs a methodology that inherently frames trans identities as subjects of public debate and scrutiny rather than affirming their rights and dignity. Firstly, the methodology of pulse surveys, while useful in capturing immediate public sentiments, often lacks depth and fails to engage with the complex realities of those it surveys. In this case, the lived experiences of trans individuals and the systemic challenges they face are glaringly absent. The survey's framing positions trans identities as a matt...