From: Discussion paper: Toward a commission policy on gender identity
Transgendered people have existed throughout history. Several cultures have integrated behaviours related to sex and gender that today would be seen by North American culture as incongruent with socially acceptable behaviours.[8]
From: Discussion paper: Toward a commission policy on gender identity
As with many emerging human rights issues, terminology is a powerful and, at times, a controversial tool. In consultation, one group of transsexuals expressed concern about the use of the term ‘transgendered’ to describe their experience because it covers so many different types of behaviour and can undermine the importance of individual or particular issues faced by transsexuals.
From: Discussion paper: Toward a commission policy on gender identity
Transgendered people have clearly identified that they should be addressed based on the gender they present. Male to female transsexuals, transgenderists, and cross-dressers who present as women should be addressed as women. Female to male transsexuals, transgenderists and cross-dressers who present as men should be addressed as men.
From: Discussion paper: Toward a commission policy on gender identity
Transgendered people come from all walks of life, and are represented in every race, class, culture, and sexual orientation. ‘Gender identity disorders’ have been identified in children as young as 3 years of age and in adults as old as 70. There is no definitive statistical information that speaks to the prevalence of ‘gender identity disorder’ in the general population. The statistical information that does exist varies both in terms of numbers and the sub-groups that are identified.
From: Discussion paper: Toward a commission policy on gender identity
‘Coming out’ as a transsexual person connotes a cycle or pattern of acknowledgement that one’s gender identity does not match one’s birth assigned sex. That cycle may begin, for example, with acknowledgement to one’s self and move toward public acknowledgement. However, for many people, this process is not linear. It does not start with denial and end with acknowledgement. It may be a non-linear process where the individual struggles with denial and acknowledgement over a period of time until coming to terms with the true gender self.
From: Discussion paper: Toward a commission policy on gender identity
Recently, there has been more attention to the issues faced by transgendered people. Occasionally, some sources of the mainstream media have begun to address these issues in a more constructive fashion[22] but myths and misinformation persist and only serve to reinforce stereotypes.
Myths about transgendered people include:
From: Discussion paper: Toward a commission policy on gender identity
From: Discussion paper: Toward a commission policy on gender identity
The framework for developing Commission policy in the area of gender identity is the Code, with the preamble being of particular importance:
From: Discussion paper: Toward a commission policy on gender identity
The Ontario Human Rights Commission is a central figure in the advancement of human rights in Ontario. The Commission is currently developing, implementing and operationalising policies and procedures related to transgendered issues.
From: Discussion paper: Toward a commission policy on gender identity
The following information provides a limited sampling of how ‘gender identity’ (and related terms) is viewed in various jurisdictions.
