Sense Project

The story is not over for the trans rights bill, Bill C-389. The Bill was passed in Parliament on February 9th (though barely - 143 to 135!) and now needs to get approved in the Senate.

This bill puts legal protection on the table for transgendered, transsexual and gender non-conforming people. It adds gender identity to the Canadian Human Rights Code. It calls harassment and discrimination against trans people what it is: a hate crime. Essentially, it’s a step toward protection, equality, and human rights for all people - regardless of how they express their gender. 

Last night, I took 15 minutes to contact all of the Quebec senators to tell them that I care about this Bill, and encouraged them to vote for it. It felt gooood. Frankly, the Conservative-dominated Senate is not the happiest place for this Bill to go, so I want to show that we’re watching and listening.

If you want to show your support too, Egale Canada has a list of all the senators’ contact info and also a handy template email that you can use to make your statement. They include a myth-buster document about the Bill, too, to address some of the stereotypes and falsities emanating from the House of Commons (e.g.: “This Bill will encourage sexual predators to lurk in girls bathrooms!”) 

Head & Hands is proud to work closely with so many trans-identified youth throughout Montreal and support them in their health needs. But transphobia is widespread and real - so we have our work cut out for us. Solidaritay, all the way! 

For more information, check out the campaign on Facebook and this recent story in the Globe and Mail.

Thursday, January 28th, 2010
1455 de Maisonneuve W. H-110 6 PM

Quebec PLWA author Laurette Lévy (Debout en clair-obscur, 2007; Zig Zag, 2002) and HIV/AIDS activist (speaking in French) will address her personal trajectory as a woman and as a writer through the quarter century since her infection, raising issues around the involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS in volunteering and activism.

This event is FREE and open to the general public.