Cheri DiNovo Minister, Politician, and LGBTQ Advocate

Cheri DiNovo is a distinguished United Church of Canada minister and former politician who has dedicated her life to the intersection of faith, social justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. Known for her resilience and advocacy, DiNovo has transitioned between roles as a street-involved youth, a corporate recruiter, a spiritual leader, and a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in Ontario.

Early Life and Resilience

DiNovo's path to leadership was marked by significant early hardship. Growing up in a rooming house, she faced the loss of her father to emphysema and the suicide of her stepfather. These tragedies led her to drop out of school in Grade 10, resulting in four years of living on the streets. During this period, she engaged in the counterculture of the time, even smuggling LSD into Canada from California using hollowed-out bibles.

Her experience at the Fred Victor Mission served as a turning point, motivating her to complete her high school equivalency and pursue higher education. She attended Centennial College before transferring to York University, where she became deeply involved in the 1960s student protest movement and joined the Young Socialists of Canada. As an openly bisexual woman, DiNovo made history in 1971 as the only woman to sign "We Demand," Canada's first gay liberation manifesto.

Ministry and Spiritual Leadership

Before entering formal politics, DiNovo pursued a calling in the ministry. After completing her degree at York University, she enrolled at Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto, earning her Master of Divinity in 1995 and a Doctorate in Ministry in 2002. She served various congregations, including a rural charge in Brucefield and the Emmanuel-Howard Park congregation in Toronto. Since January 2018, she has served as the minister for the Trinity-St. Paul's Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts.

DiNovo's ministry has always been intertwined with activism. In 2001, she performed the first legal same-sex marriage registered in Canada. She also shared her spiritual insights through her writing; her book Qu(e)erying Evangelism: Growing a Community from the Outside In won the 2006 Lambda Literary Award in the Spirituality category.

Political Career and Legislative Impact

DiNovo entered provincial politics as a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), representing the riding of Parkdale—High Park in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2006 to 2017. She won the seat in a September 2006 by-election, defeating Liberal candidate Sylvia Watson.

During her tenure, DiNovo became one of the most prolific legislators in the assembly, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ rights and poverty reduction. She is credited with introducing more successful LGBTQ bills to a Canadian legislature than any other person in history. Her landmark legislative achievements include:

• Toby's Act (2012): Named after her friend Toby Dancer, this act added transgender rights to the Ontario Human Rights Code.
• Affirming Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Act (2015): This legislation banned conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth.
• Cy and Ruby's Act (2015): This act established parent equality for LGBTQ parents.
• Trans Day of Remembrance Act (2017): Formally recognizing the day of mourning for transgender victims of hate crimes.

Beyond LGBTQ+ rights, DiNovo was a fierce advocate for the poor, campaigning for a $10 minimum wage, affordable housing, and the elimination of tax clawbacks on federal child benefit supplements.

Media and Public Discourse

DiNovo has used media as a tool for social change. From 2000 to 2006, and again starting in 2017, she hosted The Radical Reverend on Toronto's CIUT-FM. She also hosted 3 Women, a weekly program where she moderated political discussions with other women leaders and social activists.