On Tuesday, February 21^st, NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo tabled for the fourth time Toby’s Act, a private members bill that seeks to amend the Ontario Human Rights Code to include “gender identity” and “gender expression” as protected statuses. Co-sponsored by Liberal MPP Yasir Naqvi and Progressive Conservative MPP Christine Elliot, Toby’s Act, if passed, would offer far greater protections for people in Ontario who are not cissexual, cisgendered, or normatively sexed or gendered.

When we last left off with Toby’s Act, named in honour of Toby Dancer, then Attorney General Chris Bentley shot down the Bill asserting that protections were already offered under current Human Rights Code and that no further amendments were necessary. Queer Ontario continues to believe this isn’t the case and thanks to the vigilance of the Trans Lobby Group and Cheri DiNovo, the Bill has returned.

We are calling on queer and trans communities across Ontario to support Toby’s Act and to let Premier McGuinty, Andrea Horwath (Leader, ONDP), Tim Hudak (Leader, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario) and their parties know that we support the inclusion of “gender identity” and “gender expression” in the Human Rights Code. Here’s a few simple ways for you to do that:

1)      Sign our Petition

Let Premier McGuinty, Andrea Horwath (Leader, ONDP), Tim Hudak (Leader, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario) and their parties know that you support the inclusion of “gender identity” and “gender expression” in the Ontario Human Rights Code. For every person that signs, an e-mail will be sent to all the parties listed above letting them know that you support Toby’s Act. Sign now!

2)      Call your MPP and let them know you support Toby’s Act

To find out who your MPP is, use this handy tool to find your Riding and then from there, compare it to the list of current MPP’s.

Together, we can make this fourth attempt successful and finally have “gender identity” and “gender expression” amended into the Ontario Human Rights Code!

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This just in:
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Susan Gapka of the Trans Lobby Group has just informed us that NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo will re-introduce Toby’s Act to include ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ as prohibited grounds for discrimination in the Ontario Human Rights Code. This will happen on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at approximately 3:00 pm.
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We encourage all available members to visit the public gallery at Queen’s Park to join the Trans Lobby Group and show their support for the Bill.
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Stay connected for further details on how you can support these efforts to have gender identity and gender expression written into the Ontario Human Rights Code.
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With thanks,
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The Queer Ontario Steering Committee
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We are excited to announce the launch of the Queer Ontario Pressing Issues Survey, one of the many new projects we will be rolling out in the next couple of months to reach out to LGBTQ* individuals across Ontario, and to expand our work beyond Toronto.
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The survey has been created so LGBTQ people across the province can provide us with a list of the issues they feel are most important to them as LGBTQ persons, which we will then use to develop projects and initiatives that are relevant to a greater number of LGBTQ people province-wide. As such, your participation will be greatly appreciated and will be invaluable to our work and direction as an organization.
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About the Survey
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The survey itself consists of five questions, which should take approximately 3-10 minutes to answer. We have both an online version and a Word (.doc) version available for you to use.
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Indeed, this research and re-focusing will take place while we continue our work on our two core issues: the fight for ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ in the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the creation of safer spaces for LGBTQ youth across Ontario.
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If you have any questions about any of the above, do not hesitate to contact us at info@queerontario.org — we will be more than happy to answer them!
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Looking forward to serving you better,
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The Queer Ontario Steering Committee
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PO Box 822, Station A
Toronto,Ontario M5W 1G3
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Website: www.queerontario.org
Email: info@queerontario.org
Facebook: Queer Ontario
Twitter: @queerontario

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* Note:  For the purposes of this survey, ‘LGBTQ’ will refer to individuals who are marginalized because of their sex, gender, and/or sexuality. This includes, but is not limited to: individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, agender, two-spirited, cross-dressing, intersexed, neutrois, asexual, pansexual, polyamorous, kinky, and/or nudist. This survey is also open to allies who can assist us in our work.
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We know that forms of oppression based on sex, gender, and/or sexuality cannot be seen in isolation from other forms of oppression, so we encourage their joint articulation as well.
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