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Trevor Kirczenow

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For the newsreader, see Trevor McDonald.

Trevor Kirczenow
Trevor Kirczenow
Born1985 (age 38–39)
Canada
Occupation(s)Healthcare researcher and advocate, author, politician
Notable workWhere's the Mother? Stories from a Transgender Dad
Websitetrevorkirczenow.liberal.ca www.milkjunkies.net

Trevor Kirczenow (born 1985) is a transgender health researcher and diabetes healthcare advocate. He is an author and community organizer in the field of LGBTQ lactation and infant feeding. He has run twice as a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada.

Biography

[edit]

Kirczenow earned a Bachelor of Political Science honours degree from the University of British Columbia.[1]

Research

[edit]

In 2014, Kirczenow formed a research team[2] through the University of Ottawa which obtained funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to conduct qualitative research about transmasculine individuals' experiences of pregnancy, birthing, and feeding their newborns.[3]

The group's research paper, "Transmasculine individuals’ experiences with lactation, chestfeeding, and gender identity: a qualitative study,"[4] contains the first known use of the word "chestfeeding" in the title of an academic paper,[5] which is a term preferred by some transmasculine individuals to describe their lactation and nursing relationship.[6]

Kirczenow says "There is this assumption that goes along with the ‘born in the wrong body’ narrative, that if you are a trans guy you would want a hysterectomy and never use your body to carry a pregnancy."[2] He noted that none of the participants' surgeons discussed the potential for future chestfeeding before performing top surgery, and that "the range of experiences and showing more nuance, more complexity, about transgender lives is what is most important in this study."[5]

Federal politics

[edit]

Kirczenow was the first openly transgender candidate to have been nominated by a major Canadian political party for a federal election.[7] He ran for the Liberal Party candidate for Provencher in the 2019 Canadian federal election and the 2021 Canadian federal election, finishing second both times.

Pregnancy and birth

[edit]

Having been assigned female at birth, Kirczenow transitioned to male by taking testosterone and undergoing chest surgery. When he and his partner decided to start a family, on advice from a doctor, Kirczenow stopped hormone therapy and was able to become pregnant. Although Kirczenow did not plan to breastfeed and assumed it would not be possible, he decided to try after learning that "even a small amount of milk could be really valuable to my baby," and that "breastfeeding is about more than the milk. It can be a relationship too and a whole way of parenting."[8]

Application for La Leche League leadership

[edit]

Before his child was born, Kirczenow (under his married name, MacDonald), sought peer-to-peer support from his local chapter of La Leche League (LLL), the international breastfeeding organization. He was later asked to assume a volunteer leadership position. However, La Leche League Canada (LLLC) rejected his query, saying "the topic has never arisen in the 56-year history of our organization"[9] and "since an LLLC leader is a mother who breastfed a baby, a man cannot become an LLLC leader."[10][11]

The board of La Leche League International (LLLI) reviewed the policy,[12] citing its mandate to be a "nondiscriminatory service organization." A year later, they revised their policy to allow leaders to serve no matter their gender.[13] LLLI spokesperson Diana West commented, "It was thought that only women could breastfeed. Once it became clear it wasn’t as straightforward as that, the policy had to change. We’re just trying to be on the right side of history. Yes, we took a year to do it, but we did it in a way that was fair and unequivocal."[14]

In 2016, Kirczenow became the first-ever transgender man to be accredited as a La Leche League leader. LLLI said to other leaders: "We recognize that any breastfeeding parent, regardless of whether they self-identify as a mother or father, should be – and is now – welcome to investigate LLL Leadership. There are other prerequisites that a potential Leader needs to satisfy, but being a woman isn't one of them.”[15]

Community organization and advocacy

[edit]

In 2012, Kirczenow founded the international advocacy and support group, "Birthing and Breast or Chestfeeding Trans People and Allies".[16] The group currently has over 6800 members.[17]

After his son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Kirczenow co-founded the advocacy group Emergency Diabetes Support for Manitobans in 2020, advocating for improved coverage in Manitoba and a national Pharmacare plan for people who cannot afford lifesaving medication.[18][19] The group was successful in lobbying for continuous glucose monitors and improvements to insulin pump coverage from the province.[18]

Midwifery care for trans clients

[edit]

In 2015, several commentators claimed that Kirczenow, who was attended by midwives during his pregnancies, had forced the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) to stop using gendered language such as "mothers" and "pregnant women."[20][21][22] However, Snopes reported that while MANA did change some of the language in their core materials to clarify they welcomed transgender and cisgender clients in their scope of practice, those decisions were based on their own standards of care, inclusion, and position on gender identity, and not due to pressure from Kirczenow or any other trans people.[23]

Following MANA's announcement, a group of midwives penned an open letter to MANA protesting what they viewed as "the erasure of women from the language of birth."[24] Kirczenow wrote a response in the Huffington Post[25] saying that "trans, genderqueer and intersex people have been giving birth for as long as women-identified people have" and "it is possible to be inclusive."[25] Several other associations of midwives subsequently issued statements supportive of MANA and gender nonconforming clients.[26][27][28][29]

Works

[edit]

Kirczenow, under his married last name MacDonald, has written for The Guardian, The Advocate,[30] the Huffington Post,[31] Out Magazine and This Magazine. He is a public speaker about transgender people and reproductive health, including lactation.[32][33][34]

He is first author on the first peer-reviewed medical research article on the subject of transmasculine infant chestfeeding.[4]

Kirczenow is the author of a tip sheet for volunteer leaders who are providing support to transgender, transsexual, and genderfluid individuals who wish to nurse their babies[35] and was profiled in La Leche League International's magazine, Breastfeeding Today.[36]

Kirczenow's 2016 biography Where's the Mother? Stories from a Transgender Dad[37] has been added to the required reading list for Doula Trainings International, who commented that the book is "eye-opening for new and seasoned doulas alike."[38] It was reviewed by Publishers Weekly as "frank, clever, and easy to process ... a refreshing and insightful narrative."[39] The work has also received coverage in The New York Times,[40] The Guardian,[2] The Toronto Star,[16] Buzzfeed,[41] Gay Star News,[42] Metro UK,[43] The Advocate,[44] Rewire,[45] and on the Canadian Television Network's national newscast.[46]

Electoral record

[edit]
2023 Manitoba general election: Springfield-Ritchot
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Ron Schuler 5,752 54.89 -4.59 $32,727.68
New Democratic Tammy Ivanco 3,827 36.52 +15.73 $5,175.20
Liberal Trevor Kirczenow 900 8.59 +0.05 $285.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 10,479 99.37 – $70,572.00
Total rejected and declined ballots 66 0.63 –
Turnout 10,545 58.30 -2.27
Eligible voters 18,089
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -10.16
Source(s)
Source: Elections Manitoba[47][48][49]
2021 Canadian federal election: Provencher
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Ted Falk 24,294 48.7 -17.2 $83,776.96
Liberal Trevor Kirczenow 8,472 17.0 +3.9 $25,158.99
People's Nöel Gautron 8,168 16.4 +14.2 $24,179.71
New Democratic Serina Pottinger 6,270 12.6 -0.2 $0.00
Independent Rick Loewen 1,366 2.7 N/A $0.00
Green Janine G. Gibson 1,272 2.6 -3.4 $1,596.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 49,901 99.5 – $117,118.32
Total rejected ballots 355 0.5
Turnout 50,156 67.4
Eligible voters 74,468
Conservative hold Swing -10.6
Source: Elections Canada[50]
2019 Canadian federal election: Provencher
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Ted Falk 31,821 65.9 +9.84 $91,792.89
Liberal Trevor Kirczenow 6,347 13.1 -21.56 $13,417.34
New Democratic Erin McGee 6,187 12.8 +7.50 none listed
Green Janine G. Gibson 2,884 6.0 +2.02 none listed
People's Wayne Sturby 1,066 2.2 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 48,305 100.0
Total rejected ballots 322
Turnout 48,627 70.5
Eligible voters 68,979
Conservative hold Swing +7.85
Source: Elections Canada[51][52]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Trevor Kirczenow | Team Trudeau". trevorkirczenow.liberal.ca. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Kassam, Ashifa. "Breastfeeding as a trans dad: 'A baby doesn't know what your pronouns are'". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  3. ^ MacDonald, Trevor; Noel-Weiss, Joy; West, Diana; Walks, Michelle; Biener, MaryLynne; Kibbe, Alanna; Myler, Elizabeth (16 May 2016). "Transmasculine individuals' experiences with lactation, chestfeeding, and gender identity: a qualitative study". BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 16 (1): 106. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0907-y. PMC 4867534. PMID 27183978.
  4. ^ a b MacDonald, Trevor (16 May 2016). "Transmasculine individuals' experiences with lactation, chestfeeding, and gender identity: a qualitative study". BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 16 (1): 1471–2393. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0907-y. PMC 4867534. PMID 27183978.
  5. ^ a b de la Cretaz, Britni. "What It's Like to Chestfeed: The many obstacles trans men and other transmasculine people run into when feeding infants". The Atlantic. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  6. ^ Lindsay, Kathryn (24 August 2016). "How Do Trans Men Breastfeed Their Babies?". cosmopolitan.com. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  7. ^ Braun, Daryl. "Former WSO Violinist Running For Liberals In Provencher". Steinbachonline.com. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Manitoba father who breastfeeds shares story to promote tolerance". CBC News. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  9. ^ "LLLC Statement" (PDF). La Leche League Canada. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  10. ^ Tapper, Josh (19 August 2012). "La Leche League Canada rejects breastfeeding dad's bid to become lactation coach". Toronto Star. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  11. ^ Ligaya, Armina (20 August 2012). "Transgender father says breastfeeding support group rules unfairly bar him from becoming a leader". National Post. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  12. ^ Ring, Trudy (26 August 2012). "La Leche League to Consider Transgender Leaders". The Advocate. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  13. ^ "LLLI | Breastfeeding Counsellor Eligibility Criteria 21 April 2014". Llli.org. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  14. ^ Tapper, Josh (25 April 2014). "Transgender man can be breastfeeding coach". Toronto Star. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  15. ^ MacDonald, Trevor. "Proud to be a New La Leche League Leader!". Milk Junkies. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  16. ^ a b Weikle, Brandie (19 May 2016). "Transgender dad shares his comforting path to pregnancy". The Toronto Star. p. T6.
  17. ^ Hempel, Jessi. "My Brother's Pregnancy and the Making of a New American Family". Time. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Manitoba government promise of diabetes coverage 'will save lives' but falls short, advocates say". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  19. ^ Gerwing, Michelle (17 March 2021). "Manitoba group seeking coverage for modern tech for diabetes management". Winnipeg.ctvnews.ca.
  20. ^ Jesse, Michelle (29 September 2015). "Transgender dad offended by "pregnant women"". Allen B. West. Retrieved 26 August 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  21. ^ LaCapria, Kim (October 2015). "Belaboring the Point". Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  22. ^ "'Trans Dad' Offended by 'Mothers' and 'Pregnant Women'". 30 September 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  23. ^ LaCapria, Kim (October 2015). "Belaboring the Point: Midwifery groups are starting to include transgender patients, but not under any pressure from "offended" trans people". snopes.com. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  24. ^ "Open Letter to MANA – Sign-On". 20 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  25. ^ a b MacDonald, Trevor (15 September 2015). "Transphobia in the Midwifery Community". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  26. ^ Canadian Association of Midwives (September 2015). "A Statement on Gender Inclusivity & Human Rights" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  27. ^ "Response to the Open Letter to MANA". Birth for Every Body. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  28. ^ "Welcoming transgender, genderqueer and intersex people into midwifery care | Blog | Ontario Midwives". Ontariomidwives.ca. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  29. ^ "CMRC Position Statement on the Use of Gender Inclusive Language" (PDF). Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council. June 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  30. ^ "Authors: Trevor MacDonald". The Advocate. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  31. ^ "Trevor MacDonald". Huffpost.com.
  32. ^ "LLLI 60th Anniversary Celebration – A Day of Education and Festivities". La Leche League International. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  33. ^ "When Transgender Men Chestfeed or Breastfeed their Babies: How Clinicians Can Offer Support". Gold Lactation conference. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  34. ^ "Trevor Macdonald". Yonifest.org. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  35. ^ MacDonald, Trevor. "Transgender/transsexual/genderfluid Tip Sheet – General Information" (PDF). La Leche League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  36. ^ MacDonald, Trevor (16 May 2016). "Gender Identity, Toddler Nursing, and Good Friends". Breastfeeding Today. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  37. ^ MacDonald, Trevor (April 2016). Where's the Mother? Stories from a Transgender Dad. Dugald, Manitoba: Trans Canada Press. ISBN 9780991964505.
  38. ^ "What Birth Workers Can Learn from Where's the Mother? Stories from a Transgender Dad: An Interview with Trevor MacDonald". Doula Trainings International. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 July 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  39. ^ "Where's the Mother? Stories from a Transgender Dad". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  40. ^ "Transgender man opens up about breastfeeding his sons". New York Times Live. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  41. ^ Strapagiel, Lauren. "This Winnipeg Transgender Dad Wrote A Book About Giving Birth". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  42. ^ Chubb, Laura (8 June 2016). "Trans dad Trevor MacDonald talks getting pregnant after transition following release of his memoir". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  43. ^ Scott, Ellen (24 May 2016). "This Transgender Dad Wrote a Book ..." Metro. metro.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  44. ^ "7 Things that are Everything This Week". theadvocate.com. The Advocate. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  45. ^ de la Cretaz, Britni (24 May 2016). "Breastfeeding, Bias, and Men Who Give Birth: Q&A With Trans Activist Trevor MacDonald". rewire.com. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  46. ^ "An Interview with author Trevor MacDonald". youtube.com. Trans Canada Press. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  47. ^ "Summary of Votes Received" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  48. ^ "CANDIDATE ELECTION RETURNS GENERAL ELECTION 2023". Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  49. ^ "2023 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE AND REGISTERED PARTY ELECTION EXPENSE LIMITS - FINAL EXPENSE LIMIT" (PDF). Elections Manitoba. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  50. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  51. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  52. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
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