Take action for Trans Rights

What is Bill C-16

Bill C-16 amends the Canadian Human Rights Act to add gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination. The enactment also amends the Criminal Code to extend the protection against hate propaganda set out in that Act to any section of the public that is distinguished by gender identity or expression and to clearly set out that evidence that an offence was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate based on gender identity or expression constitutes an aggravating circumstance that a court must take into consideration when it imposes a sentence.

Ultimately, this Act takes major steps to protect trans & gender non-binary Canadians against federal forms discrimination. We also hope it will be used to open the doors to other trans rights, as well as protections, resources and supports.

History of Act

Efforts to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to include gender identify & expression date back to May 2005 with efforts by Member of Parliament Bill Siksay from the riding of Burnaby-Douglas (BC). Over his tenure in parliament he re-introduced the legislation several time, however a lack of support in the house left the legislation to die on the order paper.

Next Steps, How can you help?

While Bill C-16 has passed through the House of Commons, there is no guarantee it will be pass in the Senate. In fact, it was the Senate that has historically made cissexist changes and/or ultimately left it to die on the order paper.

This is why we need your help.

We need Canadians to call & email their Senator and say that Bill C-16 needs to be passed unchanged immediately.

Over the next weeks, we will complete and release our survey of how Senators plan to vote, so that we can focus our calling efforts on the ones who might need extra effort to understand our community’s position on why Bill C-16 is so important.

If you have any suggestions on our efforts for Bill C-16 or wish to collaborate on projects to advance Bill C-16, please email us at: info@ccgsd-ccdgs.org

Sample Email:

(note: You can also write a letter to any Senator at: (Name of Senator), The Senate of Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 04A. No postage is required on letters sent to Members of Parliament or Senators).

Dear Senator

I’m writing to you in support of Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity and gender expression). I urge you to support the Bill and pass it immediately.

Trans and gender non-binary Canadians are disproportionately at need for emergency shelter and crisis counselling, however are often turned away from services because of how they identify or present.

Recent statistics paint a grim reality for trans youth in Canada:

49% of trans youth have been sexually harassed—because they are trans

37% of trans youth have been physically harassed or assaulted because of their gender expression

Trans youth are 8 times more likely than their peers to report a suicide attempt, and nearly 6 times as likely to report high levels of depression.

This Bill has already passed through the House of Commons with support from all parties before, and it is long overdue to move this important piece of legislation through the Senate.

Get involved in the community &help us build the future.

As a leader in anti-discrimination work, CCGSD runs programming all over Canada and the United States. Because of our hundreds of volunteers, we are able to reach over 250,000 people annually. We are also a proud leader in the International Day of Pink (DayOfPink.org).
Tel: 613-400-1875Email: info@ccgsd-ccdgs.org