By JONATHAN BRADLEY.The Ontario Liberals have promised to implement pro-LGBT policies if elected in the next provincial tilt. .“The Ontario Liberals have a strong record of proudly supporting and empowering the 2SLGBTQ+ community,” said Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca in a Friday press release..“For too long, Doug Ford’s Conservatives have chosen to side with bigots like Charles McVety, showing 2SLGBTQ+ Ontarians they don’t have a true ally in the premier’s office.”.Del Duca said the Liberals will work to provide gender-affirming health care, mental health supports, and long-term care. A Liberal government said it will reduce wait times and restrictions to gender transition surgeries..Liberals promise they will fully cover medications used to prevent and treat HIV. It said 2,000 supportive homes for LGBT youth will be built. .The Liberals pledged to ensure LGBT youth are supported in schools. They added they will spend $20 million on LGBT community centres, organizations, and pride festivals. .These policy proposals, said the Liberals, will help to address disparities LGBT people experience. .“In a province as diverse as ours, everyone should be empowered to love and live as their authentic selves,” said Del Duca. “Our plan will expand access to the critical health and social services 2SLGBTQ+ Ontarians rely on including preventative medication, gender affirming surgeries, supportive housing, and mental health supports.”.The Ontario government announced it will be spending more than $800,000 in March on supports for LGBT children in the child welfare system. .This funding was allocated to the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies to spend on travel to inclusive and gender-affirming camps for youth and enhanced training for staff. .“Our government recognizes more needs to be done to improve outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two Spirit and queer children and youth in our child welfare system,” said Ontario Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues Jane McKenna..“This investment will help develop new services and supports to respond to the specific needs of LGBT2SQ children and youth in care.” .Jonathan Bradley is a Western Standard contributor based in Toronto
