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 Dalpé]
- 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)
- Steering Committee: “Toni Vonk”
- cawsbar.ca/steering-committee
Gender Dissent (genderdissent.com)
Facebook (facebook.com)
Playwrights Guild of Canada (playwrightsguild.ca)
- Vivienne Laxdal
- playwrightsguild.ca/playwright/laxdal-vivienne
Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia (canadiantheatre.com)
- Laxdal, Vivienne
- canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Vivienne%20Laxdal
IMDb (imdb.com)
- Vivienne Laxdal
- imdb.com/name/nm2010160/