Inclusion of Gender Identity within the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Canada has been a progressive country within the global community in respect to Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights. Unfortunately, the efforts to garner these rights have been a long expensive arduous process. This being said, Canada still lacks progress within the Transgender community, as the country has still not added Gender Identity, the umbrella term that Trans-indentified persons fall under, to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This lack of inclusion creates a gap between those who have full rights and freedoms as a Canadian citizen, and those whom would still be considered to be a 2nd class citizen within their own country. Bill C-389 was introduced in late 2010 to “amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect the rights of transgender or transsexual citizens. It would prohibit discrimination on the basis of “gender identity” or “gender expression” in the workplace or elsewhere, and would amend the Criminal Code so that crimes committed against people because they are transgender or transsexual would be treated as hate crime”. (Globe and Mail, 2011) This bill passed through the House of Commons and was headed for the Senate (which being predominately Conservative based would have voted against the creation of this amendment), when a Federal Election was called and parliament was dissolved, as too was any chance for Bill C-389 to continue on its journey. One issue that many Trans-identified persons face is access to healthcare, considered by many Canadians to be a basic right and freedom, unfortunately that is not the case; “[as] [a]ny group faced with unrelenting discrimination will be in particular need of social services; however, as is often the case, those in greatest need have access to the fewest resources”. (Gender Public Advocacy Coalition, 1997) It is now time for the Canadian government and its citizens to act and ensure equality for all. Please sign this petition is support of including Gender Identity within the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.