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Canada is Proposing a New Bill – And It Is Long Overdue

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On Tuesday, May 10th, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould introduced a bill to alter the Criminal Code and extend the protection of the Canadian Human Rights Act to gender identity.  While this, especially in light of the recent bathroom controversy going on in the United States (see here), is an incredible progressive step, it is long overdue.

For starters, transgender people have existed all through time.  In the Middle Ages, they were viewed as possessors of greater wisdom than the common man, believed to have divine knowledge.  There is evidence of Aboriginal two-spirit people existing long before colonization.  Nazis would persecute trans and gay people during World War Two.  The first recorded physical transition occurred 67 years ago.  The trans community has been through this battle before, with the Stonewall riots of 1969.

So why hasn’t this bill been proposed before?

Actually, it has. Several times.  During a debate on March 7th, 2013, many house members deemed it “unnecessary”, “unsettling to people” and brought forth petitions with thousands of signatures to PREVENT transgender people from being protected under the law, thus it was not made law.

What is different this time?

In the last vote regarding Bill C-279, our Prime Minister Stephen Harper voted AGAINST its passing.  This time around, the proposal has full support of our PM, Justin Trudeau.  Today, on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, he shared this photo:

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While this bill is long overdue, perhaps we have a good chance of its passing, with full support from our elected leader.

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