All Rohit Singh wanted to do when she stepped into Jenny's Bridal Boutique in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with her fiance was buy a dress for her upcoming wedding.After perusing a few outfits she liked she asked to try one on. Unfortunately Jenny Correia, the transbigoted owner of the shop refused to let her do so because of her impression that Singh was a man.
"She said, sorry we don't allow men to wear dresses here," Singh recalled. "I said I'm not a man, I'm transgender."
Correia was unrepentant according to a CBC article on the incident.
"To me it doesn't matter," Correia said. "He looked like a man. There was quite a few brides in the store. If you see a man trying on dresses, you're going to feel uncomfortable."
Um Jenny, it does matter, and you're going to find out soon enough when you get hit with that formal complaint about your nekulturny behavior Singh is filing with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.
She did find a red bridal gown at the My Lynh Bridal shop in Saskatoon that did value her business and according to Singh, gave her excellent customer service on top of it.
She also now happily married and continuing her gender transition.
Now, what is the moral of this story trans people and allies? Having airtight public accommodations language in your trans human rights laws matters. This is why C-279 is needed and continued pressure needs to be put on the Conservative dominated Canadian Senate to pass it.
TransGriot Update: A protest and rally attended by Singh and dozens of supporters was held in front of the transphobic bridal shop May 4.
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