Fwd: [WSout-l] FW: Support Bill 207 - Gender Identity and Expression & Human Rights
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Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition
Oct 18, 2011, 4:59:32 PM10/18/11
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: VIPIRG Communications and Outreach <vipirgo...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Subject: Fwd: [WSout-l] FW: Support Bill 207 - Gender Identity and Expression & Human Rights
To: Vancouver Rights Coalition Island Human <contac...@gmail.com>
--
Rebecca Taylor
Outreach and Communications Coordinator
Vancouver Island Public Interest Research Group
Student Union Building Room B120 & B122
PO Box 3050 STN CSC
University of Victoria
Victoria BC, V8W 3P3
phone: 250.472.5170
www.vipirg.ca
From: VIPIRG Communications and Outreach <vipirgo...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Subject: Fwd: [WSout-l] FW: Support Bill 207 - Gender Identity and Expression & Human Rights
To: Vancouver Rights Coalition Island Human <contac...@gmail.com>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Helen Rezanowich - WOST <wstu...@uvic.ca>
Date: Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Subject: [WSout-l] FW: Support Bill 207 - Gender Identity and Expression & Human Rights
To: "WSf...@lists.uvic.ca" <WSf...@lists.uvic.ca>, "WSo...@lists.uvic.ca" <WSo...@lists.uvic.ca>
-----Original Message-----
From: Kara Taylor [mailto:ka...@uvic.ca]
Subject: Support Bill 207 - Gender Identity and Expression & Human Rights
Could you please circulate this email regarding letter writing to support Bill 207 (to include gender identity and expression in human rights).
Please distribute to your friends, family and co-workers, as widely as possible.
Thanks,
Kara
Hello fellow Human Rights supporters,
Please read on and send a letter to your MLA in support of trans people who are currently not protected by Human Rights. The work is already done for you! Attached is a formatted version of the template letter.
Bill M 207 (2011) - Gender Identity and Expression Human Rights Recognition Act (Bill), is going to be reintroduced in the upcoming BC legislative session by Spencer Herbert (MLA for West Vancouver).
See: http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th3rd/1st_read/m207-1.htm
Bill 207 is a provincial bill (not federal) that asks for the inclusion of gender identity in the BC Human Rights Code. It was initially introduced when Gordon Campbell was Premier (only passed the first reading), but now has to be reintroduced under Christy Clark. So, I am doing what I can to see this bill through.
If you support this bill, please continue reading.
I have been in touch with Mr. Herbert in regards to support of his bill.
He informed me to write two separate letters, one to the Premier Christy Clark (pre...@gov.bc.ca) and one to interim Attorney General Shirley Bond (Shirley....@leg.bc.ca ) while CCing him
(s.chandrah...@leg.bc.ca) and your local MLA.
*Don't know who your MLA is? Look here http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm *
I have written my letter and I invite you all to write your own. OR if you are pressed for time, simply copy mine. Replace my name with yours and make two copies (one to Christy Clark and one to Shirley Bond), CC Herbert and your MLA and click 'send'.
Here is my letter:
Dear [Premier Clark], [Shirley Bond],
I am writing to request your support of Bill M 207 (2011) - Gender Identity and Expression Human Rights Recognition Act (Bill), to be submitted by Spencer Herbert (MLA) this upcoming session.
The Bill fills an important gap in the BC Human Right Code (Code): it ensures the legal protection of persons who express a gender identity that is contradictory to society's idea of expression of biological sex. This population includes, but is not limited to: transgender, transsexual, intersex and gender-variant people (hereafter referred to as trans people).
Most British Columbians are protected under the Code (e.g., people with disabilities, visible minorities, etc.); however, trans people are not protected, leaving no recourse when they experience oppression and marginalization in BC systems or institutions (for example, but not limited to: the health care system, labour force, justice system and housing).
Due to the systematic and systemic discrimination against trans people, they disproportionately experience oppression and hardship when compared to other BC populations (arguable not Aboriginal, First Nations and Inuit populations). Trans people have higher rates of mental illness, suicide, self-harm and substance abuse, are far more likely to experience violence, harassment, rape, murder, and sexual assault. Further, the lack of protection for trans individuals means that they can "justifiably": be fired, refused housing, be targets of hate crimes and hate speech, refused health care services, etc.
Below are examples of oppression trans people experience in our province:
1. The Ministry of Health does not provide trans people access to certain health services (Source: Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, http://transhealth.vch.ca/). To access these services a trans person is required to live as the gender opposite to their sex-assigned-at-birth for at least 2 year in all spheres of life and then subsequently diagnosed by a psychiatrist/psychologist as having "gender dysphoria" (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV). These health services include, but are not limited to:
* what is commonly known as "top" or "bottom" therapy; * hysterectomy; * hormone therapy; * speech therapy or surgery; or, * psychiatric care before living as the opposite sex.
The 2 years of living as the opposite sex and gender dysphoria diagnosis are requirements for trans health services to be provided through MSP.
However, MSP only partially covers the services. More disgusting, is that private clinics do not provide these services without a trans person meeting the MSP requirement. To contextualize this discrimination, I ask you why a woman can have a breast augmentation at any private clinic with no restrictions, but a trans man, paying out of his pocket, cannot have a double mastectomy at a private clinic?
To be diagnosed with gender dysphoria, trans people need to be out with their family, friends and employers. Trans people have to present letters from employers, family members and friends stating that they are fully out as their preferred gender (Source: Vancouver Coastal health Authority, transhealth.vch.ca). This requirement has catastrophic consequences for trans people because, if they do not 'pass', they are subject to discrimination in the workplace, extermination of employment or assault.
2. When trans people do not have access to hormones they may obtain hormones illegally, putting them at risk for adverse effects of unregulated, black-market hormones. In addition, due to the lack of health care, trans people are at higher risk for sharing needles in order to inject hormones, putting them at-risk for blood-borne pathogens (CATIE, Canada's source for HIV and hepatitis C information, http://library.catie.ca/PDF/ATI-20000s/24654.pdf ).
3. Anecdotal evidence shows that encounters with authority for trans people can be humiliating. For example, if a trans person does pass as their preferred sex, but their name and sex has not yet been changed on government identification, airport security, border security and police are allowed to detain them, and in some instances, de-clothe them and "check" their genitals.
The discrimination against trans individuals permeates much wider than the examples I have presented here.
I think you would agree that human rights are not something to be questioned or negotiated. Human rights are to be legislated, protected and put into practice among our institutions. Bill 207 is the seed needed in order to ensure legal rights for trans people. All human beings are equal; but, the legislation protecting trans people must be in place before this is true "under the law".
I urge you to take the first step in eliminating this disgusting form of human-rights violation by supporting the Bill and encouraging your Liberal counterparts in the Legislature to do the same.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
Kara Taylor
PhD Student
Department of Sociology
University of Victoria
Office COR A372
250 721-7580
ka...@uvic.ca
"Be the change we want to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
_______________________________________________
WSout-l mailing list
WSo...@lists.uvic.ca
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/wsout-l
From: Helen Rezanowich - WOST <wstu...@uvic.ca>
Date: Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Subject: [WSout-l] FW: Support Bill 207 - Gender Identity and Expression & Human Rights
To: "WSf...@lists.uvic.ca" <WSf...@lists.uvic.ca>, "WSo...@lists.uvic.ca" <WSo...@lists.uvic.ca>
-----Original Message-----
From: Kara Taylor [mailto:ka...@uvic.ca]
Subject: Support Bill 207 - Gender Identity and Expression & Human Rights
Could you please circulate this email regarding letter writing to support Bill 207 (to include gender identity and expression in human rights).
Please distribute to your friends, family and co-workers, as widely as possible.
Thanks,
Kara
Hello fellow Human Rights supporters,
Please read on and send a letter to your MLA in support of trans people who are currently not protected by Human Rights. The work is already done for you! Attached is a formatted version of the template letter.
Bill M 207 (2011) - Gender Identity and Expression Human Rights Recognition Act (Bill), is going to be reintroduced in the upcoming BC legislative session by Spencer Herbert (MLA for West Vancouver).
See: http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th3rd/1st_read/m207-1.htm
Bill 207 is a provincial bill (not federal) that asks for the inclusion of gender identity in the BC Human Rights Code. It was initially introduced when Gordon Campbell was Premier (only passed the first reading), but now has to be reintroduced under Christy Clark. So, I am doing what I can to see this bill through.
If you support this bill, please continue reading.
I have been in touch with Mr. Herbert in regards to support of his bill.
He informed me to write two separate letters, one to the Premier Christy Clark (pre...@gov.bc.ca) and one to interim Attorney General Shirley Bond (Shirley....@leg.bc.ca ) while CCing him
(s.chandrah...@leg.bc.ca) and your local MLA.
*Don't know who your MLA is? Look here http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm *
I have written my letter and I invite you all to write your own. OR if you are pressed for time, simply copy mine. Replace my name with yours and make two copies (one to Christy Clark and one to Shirley Bond), CC Herbert and your MLA and click 'send'.
Here is my letter:
Dear [Premier Clark], [Shirley Bond],
I am writing to request your support of Bill M 207 (2011) - Gender Identity and Expression Human Rights Recognition Act (Bill), to be submitted by Spencer Herbert (MLA) this upcoming session.
The Bill fills an important gap in the BC Human Right Code (Code): it ensures the legal protection of persons who express a gender identity that is contradictory to society's idea of expression of biological sex. This population includes, but is not limited to: transgender, transsexual, intersex and gender-variant people (hereafter referred to as trans people).
Most British Columbians are protected under the Code (e.g., people with disabilities, visible minorities, etc.); however, trans people are not protected, leaving no recourse when they experience oppression and marginalization in BC systems or institutions (for example, but not limited to: the health care system, labour force, justice system and housing).
Due to the systematic and systemic discrimination against trans people, they disproportionately experience oppression and hardship when compared to other BC populations (arguable not Aboriginal, First Nations and Inuit populations). Trans people have higher rates of mental illness, suicide, self-harm and substance abuse, are far more likely to experience violence, harassment, rape, murder, and sexual assault. Further, the lack of protection for trans individuals means that they can "justifiably": be fired, refused housing, be targets of hate crimes and hate speech, refused health care services, etc.
Below are examples of oppression trans people experience in our province:
1. The Ministry of Health does not provide trans people access to certain health services (Source: Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, http://transhealth.vch.ca/). To access these services a trans person is required to live as the gender opposite to their sex-assigned-at-birth for at least 2 year in all spheres of life and then subsequently diagnosed by a psychiatrist/psychologist as having "gender dysphoria" (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV). These health services include, but are not limited to:
* what is commonly known as "top" or "bottom" therapy; * hysterectomy; * hormone therapy; * speech therapy or surgery; or, * psychiatric care before living as the opposite sex.
The 2 years of living as the opposite sex and gender dysphoria diagnosis are requirements for trans health services to be provided through MSP.
However, MSP only partially covers the services. More disgusting, is that private clinics do not provide these services without a trans person meeting the MSP requirement. To contextualize this discrimination, I ask you why a woman can have a breast augmentation at any private clinic with no restrictions, but a trans man, paying out of his pocket, cannot have a double mastectomy at a private clinic?
To be diagnosed with gender dysphoria, trans people need to be out with their family, friends and employers. Trans people have to present letters from employers, family members and friends stating that they are fully out as their preferred gender (Source: Vancouver Coastal health Authority, transhealth.vch.ca). This requirement has catastrophic consequences for trans people because, if they do not 'pass', they are subject to discrimination in the workplace, extermination of employment or assault.
2. When trans people do not have access to hormones they may obtain hormones illegally, putting them at risk for adverse effects of unregulated, black-market hormones. In addition, due to the lack of health care, trans people are at higher risk for sharing needles in order to inject hormones, putting them at-risk for blood-borne pathogens (CATIE, Canada's source for HIV and hepatitis C information, http://library.catie.ca/PDF/ATI-20000s/24654.pdf ).
3. Anecdotal evidence shows that encounters with authority for trans people can be humiliating. For example, if a trans person does pass as their preferred sex, but their name and sex has not yet been changed on government identification, airport security, border security and police are allowed to detain them, and in some instances, de-clothe them and "check" their genitals.
The discrimination against trans individuals permeates much wider than the examples I have presented here.
I think you would agree that human rights are not something to be questioned or negotiated. Human rights are to be legislated, protected and put into practice among our institutions. Bill 207 is the seed needed in order to ensure legal rights for trans people. All human beings are equal; but, the legislation protecting trans people must be in place before this is true "under the law".
I urge you to take the first step in eliminating this disgusting form of human-rights violation by supporting the Bill and encouraging your Liberal counterparts in the Legislature to do the same.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
Kara Taylor
PhD Student
Department of Sociology
University of Victoria
Office COR A372
250 721-7580
ka...@uvic.ca
"Be the change we want to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi
_______________________________________________
WSout-l mailing list
WSo...@lists.uvic.ca
https://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/wsout-l
--
Rebecca Taylor
Outreach and Communications Coordinator
Vancouver Island Public Interest Research Group
Student Union Building Room B120 & B122
PO Box 3050 STN CSC
University of Victoria
Victoria BC, V8W 3P3
phone: 250.472.5170
www.vipirg.ca
--
Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition
418-620 View Street, Victoria, BC
Coast Salish Territories, V8W 1J6
Tel. (250) 382-3012 Fax (250) 380-7311
http://vihrc.org
PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this e-mail message is privileged and confidential, and is intended for the use of the individual(s) named above. The copying, distribution, or dissemination to third parties is prohibited. If you receive this transmission by mistake, please advise the contact person indicated above and destroy all documents received.
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