The Trudeau government has introduced federal legislation that would guarantee legal and human rights protection to transgender people across Canada, a move coinciding with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
"I'm proud to say that moments ago, I introduced legislation, Bill C-16 ... that would ensure that Canadians will be free to identify themselves and to express their gender as they wish while being protected against discrimination and hate, because as Canadians, we should feel free and safe to be ourselves," said Justice Minister Jody-Wilson Raybould in Ottawa.
Raybould was joined in the foyer of the House Commons by several members and advocates of the transgender community.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a written statement earlier that the government would 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,"
"Today is about ensuring that all people
— regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity — feel safe and secure, and empowered to freely express themselves," Trudeau said.