MP Hedy Fry Says Canadian Transpeople Aren't Getting Medical Needs Served

Seems as though my Canadian transbrothers and transisters may have another friend in Parliament besides NDP MP Bill Siksay.

Dr. Hedy Fry, a physician and the Liberal MP for the Vancouver-Centre riding said Monday in Saskatoon that transgender people are not being fully served under the Canada Health Act.

"I feel like it's the last piece of discrimination under medicare,"

Fry hosted the nationally televised CBC series Doctor Doctor and served as president of the British Columbia and Vancouver medical associations before becoming an MP in 1993.

She is attending the annual Canadian Medical Association meeting being held there from August 16-19 to hear concerns from a number of groups in the city including seniors' groups, the GLBT community and city officials.

MP Fry, the Official Opposition Critic for Canadian Heritage, is also taking the time to participate in a multiculturalism round table.

Fry also met on Monday with University of Saskatchewan Students' Union president Warren Kirkland to discuss concerns of the GLBT community as well as the dearth of young people in politics.

The lack of access and equality for transgender people is a huge issue across the country, said Fry, whose medical practice served a high number of GLBT patients at the time she was first elected to Parliament.

"I found out that the suicide rates were high. I was seeing patients who didn't want anybody to know that they were teachers or public servants."

Dr. Fry is now serving her sixth term in Parliament after succeeding Kim Campbell, who became the first Canadian female prime minister. Fry herself was in the running for the Liberal party leadership before bowing out of the race eventually won by Michael Ignatieff.

Though much has changed since she was elected, Dr. Fry feels transgender people are still being discriminated against.

"There have to be legislative changes to make sure that the Canada Health Act is being observed," she said.

While being transgender is defined as a medical condition, Fry said it is still difficult for people to receive proper care. Care across the country is "spotty" at best.

"Transgender patients do not have access under medicare to the things that they need," she said. "It discriminates against an identifiable group who are not just wanting to do something, but are clearly a medical diagnosis. It's a clear diagnosis."