B.C.害羞草研究所檚 human rights commissioner Kasari Govender says the human rights of trans and LGBTQ2SAI+ people are not up for debate, full stop.
害羞草研究所淒enying the existence of trans and gender diverse people 害羞草研究所� including calls to erase trans and LGBTQ2SAI+ people from our province害羞草研究所檚 curricula 害羞草研究所� is hate, and hate should have no place in our community or in our schools,害羞草研究所� Govender said.
害羞草研究所淭rans and LGBTQ2SAI+ people don害羞草研究所檛 just have a right to exist 害羞草研究所� they have a right to thrive, to be loved and to have their human dignity recognized, represented and respected, as we all do.害羞草研究所�
Govender made these comments as part of a statement denouncing a series of planned rallies Sept. 20 across B.C. and Canada. Their organizers calling themselves 1 Million March 4 Children say they are 害羞草研究所渁dvocating for the elimination of the sexual orientation and gender identity curriculum, pronouns, gender ideology and mixed bathrooms in schools.害羞草研究所�
Several counter-rallies are also planned and a number of organizations including BCTF and BCFED have issued statements of support for SOGI curriculum and solidarity with 2LGBTQ2SAI+ communities.
They also have received support from Premier David Eby.
害羞草研究所淲ithout hesitation, I denounce threats, hate and violence against 2SLGBTQIA+ communities,害羞草研究所� he said in responding to a letter from BCTF害羞草研究所檚 president Clint Johnston. 害羞草研究所淲e are seeing a concerning rise in incidents where trans people are being targeted with threats and violence in person and online.害羞草研究所�
Eby also addressed students.
害羞草研究所淲e may not have met,害羞草研究所� Eby said. 害羞草研究所淚 may not know your name and I may not know your favourite music, but I want you to know this: I accept you for who you are in every way. My job as premier is to ensure you all have a safe learning environment, so you can pursue your dreams.害羞草研究所�
A 2023 poll by Ipsos found almost eight out of 10 Canadians believe transgender people should be protected from discrimination in employment, housing and access to businesses.
Looking across the globe, Canada has consistently ranked among the strongest supporters for trans-rights, behind leaders such as Spain and Argentina, but ahead of other western countries, including the United States, where a coalition of religious voices and their political allies in the Republican Party have passed a rising, increasingly restrictive number of laws aimed at trans and LGBTQ2SAI+ people.
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However, recent months have seen several development that have caused alarm within Canada害羞草研究所檚 trans community and its allies.
Despite warnings of violating Charter rights, New Brunswick害羞草研究所檚 government has restricted the rights of children under the age of 16 to use their preferred first names or pronouns at school and the recent policy convention of the federal Conservative Party saw delegates pass a series of resolutions (and presumably future government policies) denounced as anti-trans.
According to Statistics Canada, of the nearly 30.5 million people in Canada aged 15 and older living in a private household in May 2021, 100,815 were transgender (59,460) or non-binary (41,355), accounting for 0.33 per cent of the population.
Govender touches on the universal aspects of protecting trans rights in her statement.
害羞草研究所淲hen we stand together against anti-trans hate, we stand together against all hate,害羞草研究所� Govender said. 害羞草研究所淚n recent years, trans people have become the focus of a surge of disinformation, conspiracy theories and hate. This is not only about hate on the basis of gender identity; these rallies are an affront to human dignity, expression and rights for all of us.
I condemn these rallies for their attempts to erase and marginalize trans and LGBTQ2SAI+ people. In our schools, in our communities and across our province, there is no space for hate.害羞草研究所�
Govender paired her statement with an appeal to Eby to implement a dozen recommendations following the release of a report into the causes and solutions to hate.
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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