Pressure grows to improve human rights for transgender people in NewfoundlandJULY 21, 2012 |SUE BAILEY, THE CANADIAN PRESS
http://www.weyburnthisweek.com/article/GB/20120721/CP02/307219991/-1/weythisweek/pressure-grows-to-improve-human-rights-for-transgender-people-in&template=cpArtST. JOHN'S, N.L. - As Newfoundland and Labrador celebrates its gay pride week, pressure is growing on the province to improve human rights protections for the transgender community, one of society's most marginalized and vulnerable groups.
The NDP has called on the Progressive Conservative government to add gender identity as a prohibited ground of discrimination under its Human Rights Act.
Openly gay NDP member Gerry Rogers says the province should follow action already taken in the Northwest Territories, Ontario, Manitoba and parts of the U.S. and Europe to distinctly protect men and women who present as the opposite sex or are in the midst of transitioning.
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Provincial Justice Minister Felix Collins said in an email that he's willing to consider changes, but discrimination based on gender identity is already prohibited.
He stressed that the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission has an internal guideline "that complaints related to gender expression, gender identity, transsexual and transgender are accepted under the prohibited ground of 'sex.'"
Still, chairman Remzi Cej said in an email that the provincial Human Rights Commission "strongly supports the addition of gender identity into the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination under the NL Human Rights Act."
http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=24964&latest=1Pride Week Launches in Capital
Monday , July 16 2012
Today kicks off Pride Week in Newfoundland and Labrador. The provincial government has joined community groups in recognizing the week and the various events that are planned through Sunday.
Charlene Johnson, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, says government is committed to embracing and celebrating the diversity of all people in the province, including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. Johnson is pleased that the number of Pride Week events continue to increase each year.
A flag raising ceremony took place at St. John's City Hall earlier today, and the annual Pride Parade is slated for Saturday. Youth bowling, a bonfire and a dance are just some of the events planned for the capital city area.
