Quest Community Health Centre, is thrilled that Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to include gender identity and expression, passed third reading in Canada’s Senate on Thursday June 15^th.

The bill updates the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to include the terms “gender identity” and “gender expression.”This new legislation prohibits discrimination against trans and gender non-binary individuals and includes them within the protections provided by the hate-speech and hate-crime provisions of the criminal law.

Thanks to the Members of Parliament and Senate who have clearly demonstarated Canada’s commitment to human rights by ratifying this new legislation and to the many activists whose work on this and similar, previous legislation has brought our country to this point. Their efforts have lead to Canada becoming safer and more inclusive place for trans and gender-diverse people .

Turning formal rights into substantive protections for trans and gender non-binary individuals will be a challenge, however Bill C-16 provides a tool for these actions.