Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day dedicated to memorializing those who have been killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice, and to raising public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people.
To mark the occasion, people across the country are calling and emailing Canada’s Senators urging them to pass Bill C-279, which would add important protections for transgender people to the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act. This is the fourth time this legislation has been introduced in Parliament, and each time it has been set back by prorogation or an election. The Bill has been approved by the House of Commons and is awaiting a final vote by the Senate. With an election imminent, it is critical that the Senate act now to ensure that the Bill passes into law before Parliament is dissolved.
West Coast LEAF has also written a letter urging the Senate to pass the Bill as drafted and without delay to protect the rights of trans people in Canada to be free from hate speech and discrimination on the basis of their gender identity.
To show your solidarity and add your voice to this important call for trans rights, please check out Amnesty International’s page dedicated to this action. It has all the information you need: Senators’ phone numbers and email addresses, details on the Bill, and suggestions about what you can say.
Trans rights are human rights. Let’s ensure they are protected by Canadian law.