NDP promises protection for transgendered people

By

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – With Vancouver’s pride week well underway, the NDP is promising changes to BC’s Human Rights Code if elected next year. It’s to add protections for transgendered people.

Marie Little is Chair of TransAlliance. She is a transgendered woman, and says life isn’t always easy for those like her.

“Myself, I waited until I retired with a secure pension and a condo with no mortgage,” she says.

West End MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert says transgendered people are far more likely to be affected by violence and poverty.
    
He introduced a private member’s bill last spring hoping to change the Code.

“The Attorney General said, ‘thank you for your support for human rights, we’ll look to implement this in the next update to the Human Rights Code,'” he says. “I asked when they planned on doing that, and the response was, ‘there are no plans at this time.'”

Chandra-Herbert says it will be his priority if the NDP takes over next year.
    
Little says it needs to be on paper for attitudes to change.  “We want it explicitly right there, so people know,” she says.

Meanwhile, Vancouver’s Pride Parade takes place Sunday at noon.  It starts at Robson Street and Bute Street before turning south on Denman Street and then on to Beach Avenue.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today