The B.C. government has announced its support for a bill that would enshrine transgender rights in the provincial Human Rights Code.
Attorney General Suzanne Anton made the announcement with Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert at 12:15 this afternoon.
“Over the past several weeks and months, I have met with transgender individuals and advocates who have passionately expressed the desire to see protections currently afforded within the definition of ‘sex’ made more explicit by recognizing ‘gender identity and gender expression’ expressly in B.C.’s Human Rights Code,” said Anton.
“Today, on behalf of our government, I am proud to announce that we will be introducing legislation to amend B.C.’s Human Rights Code to include ‘gender identity or expression’ among the protected grounds covered by the code.”
B.C. is among only a few provinces that have not amended their human rights legislation to provide specific protections for transgender people. Since 2012, six provinces — including Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan — and one territory have moved to do so.
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Herbert has introduced legislation protecting transgender people from being discriminated against four times in the last five years, but the governing Liberals hadn’t allowed it to be voted on.
“It’s important that if someone is facing violence or discrimination for who they are, that they see explicit protection in the human rights code,” said Herbert in April, the last time he introduced the bill.
“I’m a fighter so I keep pushing until we get change.”
WATCH: MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert talked to Global News in April about his continual attempts to introduce a private member’s bill aimed at protecting the human rights of transgender people.
Today, Herbert said he was “overjoyed” the law would be changed.
“In order to be protected by the human rights code you have to know you are. This legislation will ensure that it’s crystal clear that discrimination against someone because of their gender identity or gender expression is unacceptable in B.C.”
The BC Teachers’ Federation also applauded the decision.
“Adding gender identity and expression to the BC Human Rights Code is an extremely positive step, one which BC teachers have long called for and fully support,” said BCTF President Glen Hansman said in response to the announcement.
“All students and staff who are a part of our school communities should have the right to safely learn in BC’s schools while being fully and completely themselves.”
– With files from The Canadian Press