***UPDATE***
On November 19, 2013 Government introuduced Bill 25 - An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, 2010. This Bill would amend the Human Rights Act to add gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination. You can view the Bill on the House of Assembly Website
***
NL NDP Justice Critic Gerry Rogers, MHA for St. John's Centre, is circulating a petition calling on the House of Assembly to amend the Human Rights Act to include gender identity and gender expression in the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination.
Interested members of the public are invited to contact Gerry's office, and are welcome to circulate the petition and collect signatures.
Email: gerryrogers@gov.nl.ca
Phone: 709-729-2420
Fax: 709-576-1443
Postal Address:
Confederation Building
3rd Floor, East Block
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL
A1B 4J6
The text of the petition is as follows:
TO THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF THE PROVINCE OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED the petition of the undersigned residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, Humbly Sheweth;
Whereas Transgendered people face high risk of discrimination, violence, underemployment and lack of access to housing and other services; and
Whereas a recent EGALE Canada survey found that 90 percent of transgender youth hear transphobic comments regularly from other students and one quarter hear such comments from teachers; and
Whereas the Public Health Agency of Canada reports that nearly half of trans youth seriously considered suicide and one-fifth attempted it in the previous year;
Whereas All individuals should have equal opportunity to live their lives and meet their needs without being hindered or prevented by discriminatory practices based on gender identity or gender expression; and
WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge Government to amend the Human Rights Act to include gender identity and gender expression in the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination.
And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.
