OTTAWA – New Democrat critic for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Transsexual Issues, Bill Siksay, introduced a bill in the House of Commons today that addresses the lack of explicit protection for transsexual and transgender people in provisions of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code of Canada.

“I believe that enshrining explicit protections for transgender and transsexual people in our human rights legislation and our Criminal Code will go a long way towards full equality and acceptance for transgender and transsexuals people,” said Siksay.

Siksay’s bill adds protection for transsexual and transgender Canadians to the Canadian Human Rights Act by adding gender identity or expression to the list of prohibited grounds for discrimination in the Act.

The bill also adds gender identity and gender expression as distinguishing characteristics protected under the hate crime and sentencing section of the Criminal Code. “This will ensure that transphobic violence is clearly identified as a hate crime, and judges will be able to determine sentences accordingly,” said Siksay.

"Finally, we will be recognized in the eyes of the law as full persons -- the full persons we always were." - Érica Poirier, president of the Coalition des transsexuelles et transsexuels du Québec.

"For merely challenging society's expectations of what is expected of males and females, transgender individuals are often misunderstood and subject to fear and discrimination. Transgender and gender-variant individuals suffer disproportionately higher rates of discrimination, unemployment, denial of services, addictions, infectious disease, depression and suicide. Transpersons are too frequently the victims of verbal and physical attacks that can occur at any time and place, including the workplace. This Bill will contribute to addressing this discrimination." - Victoria Stuart, Chair, Trans Alliance Society

Siksay has introduced versions of this Bill in past Parliaments, but it is likely that the bill will be debated in this Parliament given Siksay’s position in order of consideration of the Private Member’s legislation.