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B.C. Human Rights Tribunal rules in favour of transgender politician

Morgane Oger was the first person who identified as transgender to run for election in B.C.'s legislature. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ruled that trans activist and politician Morgane Oger was discriminated against during her run in the 2017 provincial election.

According to a complaint filed to the Human Rights Tribunal, Bill Whatcott published pamphlets and made online comments attacking Oger’s gender identity while she was running for MLA in the Vancouver-False Creek riding.

According to the complaint, Whatcott called her an “impossibility” and linked transgender people to diseases.

WATCH: (Aired Dec. 11, 2019) Human Rights Tribunal hears case of alleged transgender hate speech

Click to play video: 'Human Rights Tribunal hears case of alleged transgender hate speech'
Human Rights Tribunal hears case of alleged transgender hate speech

On Wednesday, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruled that Whatcott violated Oger’s human rights and engaged in hate speech.

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Oger called the ruling historic.

“This win is a win for everybody who is in a community who faces state propaganda in Canada,” Oger said.

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“For the first time ever, gender identity or gender expression has been protected in a B.C. court against hate propaganda.”

Oger was the first person who identified as transgender to run for election in B.C.’s legislature.

The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal is an independent, quasi-judicial body tasked with screening, mediating and adjudicating human rights complaints.

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