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“For my constituent, it was a reminder that she was a single parent, and that being a single parent makes her feel different,” Thibeault said. “It’s a reminder to single parents, to divorced parents, or queer or transgender parents that they and the way they raise their child is not what is considered to be ‘normal.’”

He said adoption records are another example of government document that relies on binary gender norms.

“This isn’t about banning the words “mother” and “father” that was mentioned by some members of the press gallery earlier this afternoon,” Thibeault said. “This is about making Ontario more inclusive.”

It isn’t the gender of care, it is the nature of it

The motion is timely given the recent upsurge in awareness of transgender issues, thanks at least in part to pop culture. Orange is the New Black and Transparent have brought the issue to the fore on small screens, and Caitlyn Jenner’s coming out earlier this year drew international attention.

New Democrat MPP Jennifer French, a former teacher, lauded the motion saying families come in all shapes and sizes.

“It isn’t the gender of care, it is the nature of it,” she said.

Her caucus-mate Cheri DiNovo, who has been a leader on trans-rights issues in the Ontario legislature, said she plans to bring forward a private member’s bill to take the same notion ever further. She said the non-binding motion is just a start, but it’s time for “parental equality.” DiNovo said it would be best if all the changes were enshrined in law as opposed to a non-binding motion.