Dan Irving and Jennifer Evans: Why Canada Should Protect Gender Identity
[Dan Irving is sexuality studies minor program co-ordinator and Jennifer Evans is associate professor of history at Carleton University.]
Canada is well positioned to make a landmark statement in the coming weeks to recognize gender identity within the Criminal Code and the Human Rights Act. Since New Democratic MP Bill Siksay’s private member’s bill was presented to the Commons justice committee in the summer, it has garnered the support of the Canadian Bar Association and the major public sector union PSAC, and was recently endorsed by Vancouver city council.
Mr. Siksay’s efforts to garner official protection against unlawful and discriminatory treatment of transsexual and transgendered persons would go a great way in destigmatizing those whose lives fall outside what dominant society considers as normal.
While Canada has made great strides in opening marriage and adoption to same-sex partners, there is still a case to be made for ensuring vital social and legal protections to members of transsexual and transgendered communities. Adopting Bill C-389 would not end discrimination. But it would go a long way in protecting those who still face physical violence, economic disadvantage and social ostracism for being perceived as different....
Read entire article at Globe and Mail
Canada is well positioned to make a landmark statement in the coming weeks to recognize gender identity within the Criminal Code and the Human Rights Act. Since New Democratic MP Bill Siksay’s private member’s bill was presented to the Commons justice committee in the summer, it has garnered the support of the Canadian Bar Association and the major public sector union PSAC, and was recently endorsed by Vancouver city council.
Mr. Siksay’s efforts to garner official protection against unlawful and discriminatory treatment of transsexual and transgendered persons would go a great way in destigmatizing those whose lives fall outside what dominant society considers as normal.
While Canada has made great strides in opening marriage and adoption to same-sex partners, there is still a case to be made for ensuring vital social and legal protections to members of transsexual and transgendered communities. Adopting Bill C-389 would not end discrimination. But it would go a long way in protecting those who still face physical violence, economic disadvantage and social ostracism for being perceived as different....