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It’s official! Bills 13 and 33, Ontario’s anti-bullying and gender identity bills, were given royal assent today at 3:15 pm. This means that the bills have officially become law, marking a new era for LGBTQ rights and recognitions in Ontario.
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An Invitation to Celebrate!
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Queer Ontario will be hosting a Victory Party on Saturday, June 23rd at the 519 Community Centre’s Ballroom, where we will have some special guests, light food, and of course: some cake! Event details can be found on our website, here, and on our Facebook Page, here.
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Information about Bill 13 can be found here: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=2549
Information about Bill 33 can be found here: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=2574
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We hope to see many of you there!
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The Queer Ontario Steering Committee
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Categories: Event, Releases Tags: anti-bullying, bill 13, bill 33, gender expression, gender identity, gsa, royal assent, students, trans human rights, trans rights, youth
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Hello Everyone,
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This is a quick and joyous note to let you know that, as of 10:04 am today, Ontario became the first province in Canada (and the second jurisdiction, after the Northwest Territories) to accept ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ as protected grounds in its Human Rights Code. That is, Toby’s Act — or Bill 33, a bill to include ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ as protected grounds in the Ontario Human Rights Code — ceremoniously passed third reading and is set to receive royal ascent in the next couple of days. (Xtra!’s story, here: http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Ontario_passes_trans_rights_bill-12122.aspx)
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A special note of thanks goes out to NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo, Liberal MPP Yasir Naqvi, and Progressive Conservative MPP Christine Elliott for supporting and championing this fourth version of the bill. And, of course: to the Trans Lobby Group for its unfaltering activism.
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Indeed, here’s hoping that the related bills being considered federally and in Manitoba are just as successful,
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Martin Otarola
Queer Ontario Secretary
On behalf of the Queer Ontario Steering Committee
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Categories: Event Tags: amendments, bill 33, bill33, cheri dinovo, christine elliott, gender expression, gender identity, Ontario Human Rights Code, Toby's Act, trans human rights, trans rights, vote, yasir naqvi
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This is just a quick note reminding everyone that Bill 33, also known as Toby’s Act, will be given its third and final reading tomorrow at 9:00 am in the Ontario Legislature.
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The Bill, which seeks to amend the Ontario Human Rights Code to include ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ as protected grounds, is supported by all three political parties in Ontario. This is the fourth time the bill has been considered by the Legislative Assembly. http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2574
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A special thanks goes out to the Trans Lobby Group and MPP Cheri DiNovo for fighting so hard to get this Bill accepted and passed.
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An Invitation to Witness the Final Vote
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As with the second reading of the Bill, it is expected to pass this third time with very few, if any, opposition. The second reading of the bill was passed unanimously.
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We encourage you to come down to the Ontario Legislature to accompany the Trans Lobby Group in the witnessing of this historical event; or, if you are unable to make it in person, you can witness it online: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/go2.jsp?Page=/webcast/webcast_main&locale=en&menuItem=dandp_webcast
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We expect to hear some good news come 11:00 tomorrow morning,
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Martin Otarola
Queer Ontario Secretary
On behalf of the Queer Ontario Steering Committee
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