Trans Human Rights Campaign

ONTARIO ELECTION / Stances on gender identity and harm reduction show clear division between candidates

Brent Creelman / Capital Xtra / Sunday, September 16, 2007

Ottawa-Centre provincial election candidates debated queer issues at a forum on Sep 14 organized by Capital Xtra, Egale and Capital Pride.

Audience members and event organizers questioned the candidates on a variety of queer issues, including trans rights, harm reduction and funding of religious schools.

Krishna Rau / Xtra / Friday, August 31, 2007

With a provincial election rapidly approaching, trans activists are working to raise the profile of their issues with both the queer community and Ontario's political parties.
Read the rest of the story here

Original link with pictures here.

Ontario's political leaders speak about queer issues
ONTARIO ELECTION / How do they stand up?
Rob Salerno / Xtra / Thursday, September 06, 2007

The Ontario leaders' debate on queer issues has been cancelled, but Xtra spoke to the province's political party leaders to see where they stand. Their responses (and non-responses) are below:

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Frank de Jong, Green

By Alana Toulin, Ottawa Citizen
Published: Sunday, August 26, 2007

Some people taking part in yesterday's pride parade were old enough to remember an era when it took a lot of bravery to march. Many of the younger people in the crowd just saw it as a good time.

One participant, 31-year-old Elie Saad, was plain in his opinion.

"It's less important now than it used to be," he said.
Ottawa's Gay Pride Parade winds it way in front of Parliament Hill ending up at City Hall on Sunday.View Larger Image View Larger Image

Mayor tackles two hour meeting and post-meeting reception
PRIDE / Larry steps up
Jen Lahey / Capital Xtra / Friday, August 24, 2007

After speculation in the days leading up the Mayor's Town Hall about whether he would attend ??? or for how long ??? mayor Larry O'Brien showed up, early, to take part.

"I'm pleased to be here," said O'Brien, noting that his other scheduling conflicts had been resolved. "I'm the mayor of all people. I'm here for as long as you need me."

Read the rest here

Ottawa joins trans rights gauntlet
RAINBOW WARRIOR / Picking up Toronto's lead, locals organize
Kacie Peterson / Capital Xtra / Monday, August 13, 2007

Where human rights are concerned, it is helpful when there's clear-cut, no-nonsense wording in the law that protects those who are oppressed. That's one of the guiding principles behind the Trans Human Rights Campaign
(THRC), which was recently launched in Toronto and has spread to Ottawa.

Original link here.

TRANSGENDERED; A look at the lives of two individuals who have a strong desire to become members of the opposite sex

Stradiotto, Laura

Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 09:00

Local News - Editor's note: At their request, the people in the following story are referred to in their felt-gender (not born gender).

Province stalls on SRS funding
HEALTH / New resource centre announced to assess needs of trans people
Rob Salerno / Xtra / Thursday, July 19, 2007

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced an initiative to fund and study health programs for the queer community last month, but trans activists are disappointed that the province still doesn't cover the cost of sex reassignment surgery (SRS).

Green Party of Ontario calls for human rights protection for transexuals

Toronto, June 9, 2007 ??? To ensure that every person has a right to equal treatment without discrimination, the government should amend the Ontario Human Rights Code to include gender identity, according to Mike McLean, the Green Party of Ontario???s candidate in Toronto Centre.

June 8, 2007

Cheri Di Novo MPP
Parkdale-High Park
3136 Dundas St. West
Toronto, ON
M6P 2A1
Dear Ms. Di Novo,
I am writing on behalf of Egale Canada to thank and congratulate you for introducing Toby???s Act (Right to be Free from Discrimination Because of Gender Identity), 2007 in the Ontario Legislative Assembly as a Private Member???s Bill (Bill 186). Egale Canada is the national organization that advances equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-identified people and their families across Canada.