Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Trans Rights Become Law in Ontario

Today the Ontario legislature unanimously passed an Act to amend the Human Rights Code, protecting the rights of trans people like my girlfriend.  Ontario is the first Canadian province to do so.

This change in the law prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression.

In April, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal struck down the former rule stating that trans people had to undergo SRS before the sex designation on their birth certificates could be changed.

It's been a big year for trans rights here in the province of Ontario, at least at a legislative level.  But it's only June, right?  We've got the whole rest of the year to work harder on the front lines, in real life, to ensure that "we the people" aren't discriminating against trans folks or anyone else--in our hearts, in our minds, and in practice.

Laws are hugely important, but nothing elevates a society like a change of heart.

Hugs,
Giselle

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