Dear Minister Naqvi,
As the evidence has made increasingly clear, transgender people are among the most vulnerable in our society. For that reason, RNAO was proud to be in the Legislature on June 13, 2012 when the historic Bill 33, Toby’s Act (Right to be Free from Discrimination and Harassment Because of Gender Identity or Gender Expression), passed Third Reading. We are deeply appreciative that you co-sponsored Toby’s Act with Cheri DiNovo of the New Democratic Party and Christine Elliott of the Progressive Conservatives to amend the Ontario Human Rights Code to protect the human rights of transgender people. As health professionals devoted to improving health equity and as citizens, we also congratulate the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) for their recent publication, Policy on Preventing Discrimination Because of Gender Identity and Gender Expression, to help us all implement the letter and spirit of the Ontario Human Rights Code for all Ontarians.