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Vivienne Laxdal / “Toni Vonk” vs. transgender people

Vivienne Laxdal, also known as “Toni Vonk,” is a Canadian playwright and anti-transgender activist. Laxdal has served on the steering committee for anti-trans group Canadian Women’s Sex-Based Rights (caWsbar) and contributes to anti-trans group blog Gender Dissent.

Background

Vivienne Laxdal was born in Marathon, Ontario in 1962 and is based in Quebec. Selected works include:

  • Ben’s Confession (2025) 
  • These Girls (1999)
  • Cyber:womb (1994)
  • national CAPITALe nationale (1993) [co-written with Jean-Marc DalpĂ©]
  • Personal Convictions (1991)
  • Karla and Grif (1991)
  • Goose Spit (1988)
  • A Quantum Leap (1987)
  • Step-Sister, Step-Brother (1986)
  • Under the Umbrella Tree (1986)

Anti-trans activism

The Canadian Women’s Sex-Based Rights (caWsbar) steering committee page lists “Toni Vonk” as a “coordinator, writer, grandmother, arts communication specialist.”

Starting in 2022, Laxdal contributed a number of pieces to anti-trans group blog Gender Dissent and signed a number of anti-trans open letters.

Selected writing by Laxdal

“Vonk, Toni” (May 2, 2026). What the CBC Didn’t Tell You: One-Sided Reporting and the IOC’s Decision for Women’s Sport. Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/what-the-cbc-didn-t-tell-you

Vonk, Toni” and signatories (October 13, 2024). Open letter to The Royal Canadian Legion regarding their coerced response to hosting Vancouver Island Speaks. Feminist Current https://www.feministcurrent.com/2024/10/13/70477/

“Vonk, Toni” and signatories (September 15, 2024). The Shadowy State of Affairs for Women in Canada — A Report to the United Nations. Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/cawsbar-wdicanada-united-nations-report

“Vonk, Toni” and signatories from WDI and caWsbar (September 3, 2024). Written submission for the 89th CEDAW Session, October 7 – 25, 2024. https://womensdeclaration.com/documents/422/Written_submission_for_the_89th_CEDAW_Session_from_WDI-Canada_and_caWsbar_-_3__N3F8dA4.pdf

“Vonk, Toni” (July 31, 2024). Resistance Profile: The Emergent Property of Bryony Dixon. Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/the-emergent-property-of-bryony-dixon

“Vonk, Toni” and signatories from WDI and caWsbar (June 22, 2024). Submission to the Employment Equity Act Review Task Force: The Importance of Clearly Defining Women Within the Employment Equity Act. https://womensdeclaration.com/documents/404/Submission_letter_-_EEA_Review_Feedback_-_June_22_2024.pdf

“Vonk, Toni” (November 7, 2023). A DSD Discourse – On Intersex Day of Remembrance. Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/a-dsd-discourse-on-intersex-day-of-remembrance

“Vonk, Toni” (October 25, 2023). Targeting TERFS: Dodging the darts of reality-denying thugs. Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/targeting-terfs

“Vonk, Toni” and signatories via Sex Matters (June 19, 2023). Let the UN Special Rapporteur on VAWG Deliver her Mandate. https://sex-matters.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Open-letter-Let-the-UN-Special-Rapporteur-on-VAWG-Deliver-her-Mandate-21-June-2023.pdf

“Vonk, Toni” (February 23, 2023). Coach Blade and The ICFS: Doing the Heavy Lifting to Bring Fairness to Women’s Sport. Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/coach-blade-and-the-icfs-doing-the-heavy-lifting-to-bring-fairness-to-women-s-sport

“Vonk, Toni”; Sullivan, Maureen (February 2, 2023). Faery Tales: Wisdom2Action’s Million Dollar Deception. Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/faery-tales-wisdom2action-s-million-dollar-deception

“Vonk, Toni”; Blade, Linda (December 8, 2022). “Out of scope?” Are they on dope? Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/out-of-scope-are-they-on-dope

Resources

X/Twitter (x.com)

Substack (substack.com)

Canadian Women’s Sex-Based Rights (cawsbar.ca)

Gender Dissent (genderdissent.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Playwrights Guild of Canada (playwrightsguild.ca)

Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia (canadiantheatre.com)

IMDb (imdb.com)