Aaron Gunn, Andrew Lawton among controversial MPs headed to Ottawa

ANALYSIS: The 2025 federal election winners include multiple people with concerning pasts around LGBTQ2S+ issues

Canada has a new slate of 343 new members of Parliament after this week’s federal election, which results in Mark Carney’s Liberal Party winning the most seats to form a minority government. 

But when it comes to LGBTQ2S+ rights, there are some big question marks headed to Ottawa that we might want to keep an eye out for, including controversial right-wing media personalities, incumbent MPs who voted against the conversion therapy ban and U.S. vice-president JD Vance’s bestie. 

Senior editor Mel Wood breaks down what you need to know about the anti-LGBTQ2S+ pasts of some of Canada’s newly elected MPs.

Senior editor Mel Woods is an English-speaking Vancouver-based writer, editor and audio producer and a former associate editor with HuffPost Canada. A proud prairie queer and ranch dressing expert, their work has also appeared in Vice, Slate, the Tyee, the CBC, the Globe and Mail and the Walrus.

Keep Reading

Rechie Valdez named Women and Gender Equality and Youth minister

Valdez will handle gender in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new cabinet

Mark Carney’s Liberals projected to win Canadian federal election

What does the 2025 Canadian federal election result mean for LGBTQ2S+ people in Canada?

Conservative platform pledges ban on trans women in women’s prisons

ANALYSIS: The Conservative Party of Canada’s 2025 federal election platform also hints at possible future anti-trans policies

Quinn’s inaugural NSL goal is a big deal for trans sports

ANALYSIS: The Vancouver Rise midfielder ensured that trans people will play a starring role in the new era of sports in Canada