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Update: Bill 33, Ontario’s gender identity bill, has passed!

June 13th, 2012 Comments off

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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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Reminder about Final Reading and Vote on Ontario’s Gender Identity Bill

June 12th, 2012 Comments off

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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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