LGBTQIA+ community expresses concern over bus advertisements

Controversial bus ads spark concern London buses sport new ads that some say is offensive to trans community, CTV's Reta Ismail reports.

The local LGBTQIA+ community is expressing concerns over an advertisement running on three city buses in London.

The advertisement says, “put the brakes on medical transitions for minors”.

“These ads make things seem very black and white and very alarmist and I was also very concerned about individuals who were trans and non-binary identified, seeing these ads after all that they go through in terms of figuring out and starting the journey of their identity and feeling unsafe in their community,” said Richard MacDonagh with the Infectious Diseases Teams, Youth Outreach Team and Trans and Non-Binary Health at London InterCommunity Health Centre.

The advertisements were bought by the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA). The London Transit Commission (LTC) didn’t reveal how much was paid for the ads.

“This ad, it’s controversial and it’s certainly not at all reflective of the views and values of LTC or myself,” said Stephanie Marentette, LTC’s chair.

“But the fact that it’s controversial isn’t going to trigger a right for us to exclude it, it has to be one of those elevated criteria under the charter. Like I said before, we don’t have the ability to police ads because they’re expressing a controversial opinion.”

People who work firsthand with the transgender community are concerned the messaging will negatively impact trans youth.

“When kids aren’t given the opportunity to go through their gender and explore their gender journey, go through that and allow that process to happen, then we’re taking away their right and we are negatively impacting them,” said Laura Hinz, a registered nurse with the London InterCommunity Health Centre.

In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for ARPA said, “through its ‘Let Kids Be’ campaign and related bus ads and billboards, ARPA wants to encourage Canadians to continue to engage in a serious conversation about the propriety of medical transitioning for minors.”

The LTC said if they are going to offer advertisements, they have to comply with the charter, despite the fact that this messaging does not align with its values.