Bill C-389

Time to push the members of the Canadian Senate, to ensure that this bill goes through and becomes law.

For those who are unaware of what Bill C-389 is, it is to protect gender identity and gender expression. In other words, it protects those of us who are transsexual and as well the crossdressers/transvestites, gender fluid, etc, from discrimination etc.

Why do we need it?

Well, for one it means that if you are fired from your job or denied a job, for instance, because you are transsexual, you have a basis to file a discrimination case. It also means that you could not be denied housing even.

"But, hey whoah, Vanessa!" you say... "they surely cannot deny renting you an apartment just because you are trannssexual?" Oh yeah? Realllllly? Then why was the one and only time I presented as a male I got my apartment? And every single other time I was refused or given some lame excuse? Where they sound so willing and needing to rent the place, ask if there is any kind of things like references needed, etc, then when I show up to view the place there is all of a sudden such things then declared as being required? Or the applications that I made, showing that I could afford say $350 rent for a place, but yet not get? Yet I show up for this place, as a guy, show the same exact proof, for $495 a month, and I get it right there and then, no application, no wait?

Discrimination against us is rampant. Try finding a job that is not in a call center or somewhere where you are out of the public eye and as well out of the eyes of most employees. No way, Pedro! You will have one hell of a time, no matter your qualifications. There are always a crapload of excuses that are chosen from, among the most popular are "You are overqualified", "you are underqualified", "we have decided that we no longer need to fill this position".

Getting this bill through the Senate, and into law, is urgent. It would not surprise me to see Harper and his conservatives trigger an election for it's scheduled reading, so that it dies. We MUST push the Senate to get this through right now, period. It is far, far, FAR too important to die.