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On Wednesday, August 1, 2012, Queer Ontario submitted the following [first] document to Alexandra Schmidt, Senior Policy Advisor for ServiceOntario, in response to ServiceOntario’s consultation document regarding an amended criteria for a change of sex designation on an Ontario Birth Registration. As expected, Queer Ontario was not one of the organizations contacted to provide feedback on the document, but we were thankfully alerted to it, five days before the due date, by a firm supporter. Unfortunately, given the short timeline, we were unable to fully enact our discussion and consensus process, so the document we submitted was not given our full critical attention. Therefore, we are providing a second document that puts forward a critical analysis of the sex designation process, and highlights/elucidates the points made in our original submission.
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Indeed, we felt that the questions and terms put forward by ServiceOntario would replicate the problems already present with the sex designation process, since it still conflated “sex” with “gender” and ignores the concept of a “sex identity”. We are positive our recommendations would be equally beneficial for transsexual, transgender, intersex, sex-neutral, gender-queer, two-spirited, bi-gendered, and gender-neutral people alike.
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Queer Ontario’s Submission to ServiceOntario:

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Given the enactment of Ontario’s anti-bullying and gender identity bills yesterday [Bill 13 and Bill 33, respectively], we want to know:  Have these added protections shifted your sense of what the most pressing issues are for you as an LGBTQ* person living within Ontario? (If not, let us know know as well). Fill out our Pressing Issues Survey here!
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How The Survey Works
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The survey consists of 5 questions that should take approximately 3-10 minutes to complete.  Simply provide a listing of the issues you feel are most important to you as an LGBTQ person living in Ontario, and provide any additional commentary if you wish to do so.
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We intend to use this information to get a comprehensive sense of the issues facing LGBTQ Ontarians today, with the aim of developing projects and initiatives that are relevant to a greater number of LGBTQ people province-wide.
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We expect to review the results during the latter half of August, so by all means circulate the survey throughout your networks (and people outside of it) to help us get even more responses!
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* Note that for the purposes of this survey, “LGBTQ” will refer to individuals who are marginalized because of their sex, gender, sexuality and/or relationships. 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, and/or kinky.
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To download a Word (.doc) version that  you can return via post or e-mail, click here.
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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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