Canadian Feminist Forum: Our eight asks to improve Transgender lives in Canada
Eight asks
…to improve the lives of Transgender women (and other transgender, non-binary, and two-spirit persons in Canada)
The Canadian Feminist Forum convened during the winter of 2021 online with the goal of impacting Canada’s priorities at CSW65, Generation Equality Forum 2021 and the UN SDG2030 Agenda by discussing the feminist movement in the COVID-19 era. Our chair Morgane Oger was one of the panelists who brought forward challenges.
She suggested solutions to improve the lives of transgender women and other Canadians of marginalized gender.
Federal Government (charities):
Challenge: Too many charities act uncharitably, denying core services to transgender persons
Our ask: Issue an order to the Charities Directorate that discrimination in the delivery of charitable services on the basis of gender identity or expression is sufficient grounds for the revocation of registered charity status. Adapt Tax code as necessary.
Federal , Provincial, Municipal Government (Institutions)
Challenge: Too many institutions ignore the explicit prohibition of discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression and treat this prohibition as if it was an accommodation instead of respecting our common right to live our life according to our own gender
Our ask: Issue an order to all departments and institutions that discrimination in the delivery of services on the basis of gender identity or expression is forbidden.
Public and non-profit sector:
Challenge: Organizations have implemented policies that encode discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression by inverting the question from “what special accommodation is required for persons accessing our services” to “what persons will we allow to access our service?”
Our ask: Implement policies that enact all explicit prohibitions from discrimination equally and interchangeably, as is required under the law. When delivering services to a specific group, ensure you are not accidentally excluding persons in that group due to bias built into your policies. Review your policies and evaluate whether in-of-themselves they accidentally create or cultivate barriers to equal treatment of all persons you are mandated to serve with equal treatment.
Canadian Judicial Council:
Challenge: Judges are not familiar with the transgender community
Our ask: Allow for the justices to be as educated on the culture within the transgender community as a justice who has evolved within their own culture would naturally be informed of their own culture by default. Include training about standards of care for transgender-specific needs and governing organizations establishing them.
Political parties:
Challenge: No transgender persons elected to lawmaking positions in Canada.
Our ask: Enhance political party pipelines of Trans candidates and target winnable ridings with the goal of achieving ½% of elected lawmakers being transgender.
Private Sector:
Challenge: Commercial platforms are being used to incite hatred and spread disinformation online that targets the Trans community.
Our ask: work with the federal government to implement accountability measures to protect the public from the incitement of hate-motivated violence using their products or services.
Federal Government (Pharmacare):
Challenge: Medical expenses for trans-specific care is expensive., unfairly burdening the economically-disadvantaged Trans community with additional healthcare costs that act as a barrier to health outcomes.
Our ask: Implement free Pharmacare for all Canadians.
Provincial, Private Health Insurers:
Challenge: Some critical medical and paramedical transgender-health care is not covered by provincial health plans.
Our ask: Expand coverage to include Feminizing Facial Surgery, permanent hair removal, tracheal shave, vocal chord, gender-affirming top or bottom surgery with the care provider of their choice.
About the Canadian Feminist Forum
To learn more about the Canadian Feminist Forum or watch the panel recordings, please visit their website.