Transgender Rights approved in Canada's House of Commons

My friend Gayle is a transgendered writer in QUIRKE, our GLBT writing and imaging group for seniors. We have been writing together for over 5 years and Gayle has had several successful publications. I am encouraging her to begin writing on Hub pages. After great personal struggle, Gayle transitioned from male to female. At that time she was in her middle years,and teaching science and physics at Lord Byng High School in Vancouver.She was amazed at the support she received from her supervisors, her students, and their parents.

A few years ago our Quirke group gave a reading of our stories at the University of British Columbia. At the reception after the reading, a group of students approached me fascinated by Gayle.

"Did she used to be a male science teacher at Lord Byng High School?" asked a tall young man.

"Yes," I replied.

The young people were excited.

"She was such a great teacher. We loved her."

"Well go and tell her."

Soon Gayle was surrounded by enthusiastic fans. The students remembered being in gayle's highschool class and Gayle was delighted to meet and speak with them now that they are University students.

The Canadian House of Commons has passed a private members bill that ,if our Senate also passes it ,will give Gayle and her fellow Transgendered Canadians their Human Rights. This bill was proposed by Bill Siskay Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party. It was supported by the opposition Liberal Party of Canada and the Block Quebecois. Canada already has fairly inclusive Human Rights Legislation which includes most groups of Canadians. Now the elected House of Commons has voted to include protection for Trans Canadians. However the Canadian Senate which is a non elected body must approve the legislation. Our Senate is non elected and dominated by the Conservative Party. The Conservative Party has a lot of Members of Parliament and party supporters such as the group "Real Women" which oppose GLBT (GAY,LESBIAN,BISEXUAL,TRANSGENDERED) rights..

REAL WOMAN OPPOSE TRANSGENDERED RIGHTS

"Real Women" have stated that this bill will protect sexual predators.I am not sure what the "Real Women" mean by this statement. I cannot imagine Gail or any other of the other trans people I have met being predators or doing anything to intentionally cause harm to anyone.And it would be dangerous for Gayle or other male to female-trans people to use public institutions such as male public washrooms since they appear to be women. Bill Siskay MP has said the "Real Women's" statement is nonsense. The majority of elected representatives agree with Bill Siskay. I hope the Senate does the real Canadian thing and approves the Human Rights legislation.

A friend sent me this link.

Here is a Fabulous article in the " Boston Globe" about a transexual child changing his sex from boy to girl with support of his family.

This mornings front page. Nice story! A lovely young man was born a boy and raised as a boy. But he always felt he was a girl asking his parents "When can I be a girl?" He changed his sex with the support of his loving parents who were initially very distressed and confused.
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/family/articles/2011/12/11/led_by_the_child_who_simply_knew/?page=full