Manitoba Trans Human Rights Code Expansion Bill Gets Royal Assent

The trans rights positive momentum in Canada continues as Bill 36, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act passed the Manitoba Legislature and received Royal Assent on June 14.

Translation for you peeps south of the 49th parallel:  it's now the law.

Manitoba now has become the second Canadian province to pass trans human rights protections with the passage of Bill 36.  .

In addition to the Manitoba human rights code now being expanded to cover gender identity, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act adds "social disadvantage" to protect individuals who are or are perceived to be undereducated, underemployed, homeless or living in inadequate housing.

It also streamlines procedures for the Manitoba Human Rights  commission to handle its business

Congrats again to the Canadian trans community.  Your home and native land is rapidly becoming one that respects and protects your human rights in at least two provinces and the Northwest Territories and its something that I home my own country will replicate soon.

Yo, Canada! Wonderful Week For Canadian Transpeeps

Transpeople in the Great White North have had a wonderful week and I couldn't be happier for y'all peeps north of the 49th parallel.

First came the unexpected news that the province of Alberta, a bastion of Canadian style conservatism reinstated funding in their provincial health care plan for SRS. 

That was quickly followed up on Wednesday by the unanimous Third Reading vote in Ontario for Toby's Act.  That makes Ontario the first Canadian province to pass trans human rights coverage and the second large Canadian jurisdiction after the Northwest Territories to do so..   

There's also word that similar trans positive human rights legislation is pending in the Manitoba provincial legislature after the province's.human rights code is being expanded to cover trans people. 

I also can't forget to point out that C-279, the federal trans rights bill, passed a Second Reading vote by a 150-132 margin in a Conservative dominated House of Commons chamber on June 6 with support from some Conservative MP's..

Hoping the positive trans human rights momentum keeps going for y'all    We'll certainly be watching from south of the border what happens from this point forward.

Manitoba Human Rights Code Expanding To Cover Trans People

More progress for our Canadian trans peeps. 

Trans people living in the province of Manitoba got some wonderful news yesterday from Justice Minister Andrew Swan.  The province's human rights code will be changed so transgender Manitobans and those with a "disadvantaged social status" will be protected from discrimination.

Manitoba's human rights code already forbids discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, marital status and other factors and will bring Manitoba's code up to speed with what exists in other provinces such as Quebec.  

The changes were requested by the province's Human Rights Commission, the body that hears complaints of discrimination and a legislative amendment was introduced by Swan yesterday to initiate the process.

In addition to adding protections for trans residents and the poor people of Manitoba, also includes revisions on how the commission does its work.  The proposed changes allow for joint Manitoba Human Rights Commission proceedings on similar complaints, allowing the commission to sit in smaller panels and expanding mediation provisions.

Swan said the changes will protect people who have a social disadvantage, or are perceived to be undereducated, underemployed, homeless or living in inadequate housing, from being discriminated against.