Canada has introduced legislation that would make hate speech against transgender individuals a crime punishable with jail time.
According to The Christian Post, Canada’s prime minister, Justin
Trudeau, who leads the Liberal Party government, introduced the bill,
stating:
"As a society, we have taken many important steps toward recognizing
and protecting the legal rights for the LGBTQ2 community – from
enshrining equality rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms to the passage of the Civil Marriage Act," Trudeau said in a
May 17 speech. "There remains much to be done, though. Far too many
people still face harassment, discrimination, and violence for being who
they are. This is unacceptable."
"To do its part, the Government of Canada today will introduce
legislation that will help ensure transgender and other gender-diverse
people can live according to their gender identity, free from
discrimination, and protected from hate propaganda and hate crimes,” he
added.
If passed, the new legislation would amend the Canadian Human Rights
Act to include discrimination against gender identity and gender
expression.
Canada already has a law banning anti-gay “hate propaganda,” and in
2013, the Canadian Supreme Court upheld a conviction of a Christian
street preacher who had distributed fliers against homosexuality.
Trudeau plans to march in Toronto’s Gay Pride parade in July.
In the U.S., efforts are also being taken to protect transgenders. New York City recently enacted a policy forcing businesses and individuals to use preferred pronouns such as “ze” or “hir” when referring to transgenders.
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