Updated Citizenship Guide Recognizes Gay and Lesbian Equality in Canada

Toronto: Today in Vancouver, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced numerous changes to Discover Canada, the country's citizenship study guide. Among the changes is the addition of a paragraph recognizing the rights of gay and lesbian Canadians. "Canada's diversity includes gay and lesbian Canadians," states the guide, "who enjoy the full protection of and equal treatment under the law, including access to civil marriage. Together, these diverse groups, sharing a common Canadian identity, make up today's multicultural society."

Egale Canada is pleased that the new guide accurately reflects the current climate in Canada. Nonetheless, its obvious omission of our trans population highlights the urgent need to pass Bill C-389 before the next election, in order to ensure the rightful inclusion of trans people within Canada's human rights regime. Bill C-389, currently before the Senate, would amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) to include "gender identity" and "gender expression" as prohibited grounds of discrimination. It would also add crimes motivated by transphobia to the list of crimes treated by the Criminal Code as potential hate crimes. This kind of explicit reference within the CHRA would afford transgender, transsexual, cross-dresser, intersex, gender-queer, gender non-conforming and gender-open individuals clearer protection against discrimination and help create a safer Canada for all of us.

Egale Canada ©2011

Canada's LGBT human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice.