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The following letter by Sandra Leonetti (Deputy Registrar General, Office of the Registrar General) was forwarded to us by Alexandra Schmidt (Senior Policy Advisor, Policy & Regulatory Services Branch, ServiceOntario), as a stakeholder in the consultations around the Change of Sex Designation Criteria on an Ontario Birth Certificate. French and English PDF versions of the letter can be downloaded after the text.
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October 5, 2012
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I am writing to inform you of changes to requirements to change sex designation on an Ontario birth registration.
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The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario ordered the Government to cease requiring transgendered persons to have “transsexual surgery” in order to obtain a change in sex designation on their registration of birth. In accordance with the Tribunal’s order, the criteria for changing sex designation on a birth registration have been revised and there is no longer a requirement for “transsexual surgery”.
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The new criteria requires that a person wishing to change their sex designation on their Ontario birth registration complete a statutory declaration that they have assumed (or have always had) the gender identity that accords with the change in sex designation, they are living full-time in that gender identity and they intend to maintain that gender identity. The person must also provide a letter from a practising physician or psychologist (including a psychological associate) authorized to practise in Canada who can support the requested change. Alternative evidence to this letter in certain circumstances may be acceptable and is detailed on the application form.
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At this time, an applicant for a change in sex designation on a birth registration must be at least 18 years of age.
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The revised criteria and forms are posted on the Ministry’s website at www.ServiceOntario.ca. We would appreciate if you would make this information available to members of your organization and any clients who may be impacted by the revised criteria.
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Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
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Sincerely,
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Original signed
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Sandra Leonetti
Deputy Registrar General, Office of the Registrar General
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A PDF version of this letter can be downloaded here: English Registrar General Letter Re New Change of Sex Designation Criteria in Ontario

A French version can be downloaded here: French Registrar General Letter Re New Change of Sex Designation Criteria in Ontario
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This week on the Queer Ontario Think Tank, we have Margaret Robinson’s “Two-Spirited Sexuality and White Universality,” an essay that frames two-spirited identity not as a First Nations term for LGBTQ, but rather as a series of distinct sexual systems that challenge the universal truth claims of White sexual identity systems.

It was originally published in the Journal of Postcolonial Networks, at http://postcolonialnetworks.com/2012/06/02/two-spirited.

Margaret Robinson holds a PhD in theology from the University of St. Michael’s College and is a researcher with the Re:searching for LGBTQ Health team at the Centre for Addiction and Mental health in Toronto. She is a General Editor with the Journal of Postcolonial Networks.
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Submission Note

If you, yourself, are interested in submitting a work to the Queer Ontario Think Tank, feel free to review our submission guidelines here http://thinktank.queerontario.org/submissions, or simply email your work and a short description to info@queerontario.org. We will let you know if we need any additional material or information.

All the best,

The Queer Ontario Think Tank Editorial Committee
info@queerontario.org
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It’s here! An all-day event where LGBTQ people from across Ontario can get together and party!
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There will be food, games, and lovers & strangers, so be sure to join us for some serious grassroots fun.
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This is an alcohol-free potluck, so please feel free to bring some food and drink for the communal table. We will also have a grill with coal available for those interested in barbecuing.
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When? Saturday, August 11, 2012, from 12:00 noon onward.
Where? Hanlan’s Point Island, Toronto
(Take the Hanlan’s Point ferry to the Island and follow the pink fabric strips to our location)
Our Facebook event page can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/events/463591073653651/
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We hope to see many of you there!
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The Queer Ontario Steering Committee
info@queerontario.org
www.queerontario.org
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