Trans Human Rights in Newfoundland - 2 years later 6/9/2012

Wow, I was going through an old jump drive and came across an old interview that i did on CBC Radio Noon on June 22, 2010, discussing the latest internal review of the Newfoundland Human Rights Act by the Department of Justice. I specifically spoke about the refusal of the Government to add the terms Gender Identity or Gender Expression to the Act. The interview can be downloaded here:

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4QKo6qE3WnaZjdaODdsRHpzWjg

Here we are two years later, still fighting the same challenges and still living in a province without explicit protection. The most obvious affect of this lack of protection was my loss at the Human Rights Commission with regards to the failure of the Provincial Health Care System (AKA Medical Care Plan - MCP), to refuse to cover the costs of transsexual surgery, even when deemed medically-necessary by my doctors.

A secondary issue has been my failure to secure gainful employment that allows me to maximize my earning and career potential. As Bills work their way though the Government legislatures of Ontario and Canada, I can only hope that the day will come when Newfoundland finally gets on board and takes steps to ensure equality for all, trans or not.

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Open Letter to New Brunswick Politicians re Crandall Scandal 6/8/2012

Greetings New Brunswick Canadian Members of Parliament, New Brunswick MLAs, Moncton City Council, and Prime Minister of Canada; and greetings CCed stakeholders of interest,


I am writing to introduce myself and to raise awareness of a national concern about an issue that is taking place locally in Moncton, that involves all three levels of Government.

I am a transsexual woman from Newfoundland who is a co-founder of St. John's Pride Inc., and a soon-to-be-founder of Newfoundland Patients Association for Transsexual Health Inc. I am also a journalist for Wayves Magazine.

As a local, provincial, national, and global activist for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community, I am writing to express disgust and concern regarding the Government funding of a non-credentialed educational institute known as Crandall.

Not only is it suspicious that Government would be funding a non-credentialed institute; it is even more suspicious that funding would go towards a private business of this nature. Even worse, is obvioiusly, the fact that Government is supporting an organization that has recently been exposed for having a blatantly discriminatory hiring policy: specifically, their refusal to hire individuals who are involved in 'homosexual relationships'.

As a resident and Federal tax payer of Canada, who identifies as a member of the LGBT Community, i am extremely disgusted that my hard-earned tax money is goin go an organization who is blatantly promoting hate and discrimination again me and many others like me.

In case you are not aware, this is the year 2012. Times have changed drasticallt since this "school" opened for business. Provinces are constantly eliminating special separate religious-sanctioned schools. Heck, even here in Newfoundland, our Catholic school board was eliminated in the 1990s.

While I have no issue with religious folks running their own private institute, in now way, can i support government tax payers money being given to any organization who has a blatant policy that violates globally-accepted human rights protocols.

On a personal note, my best friend in the entire world is a transsexual woman who lives and works in the Moncton, New Brunswick area. She has struggled to find acceptance for equality from both society, and in terms of Government policy. Ironically enough, she is currently recovering from a medically-necessary transsexual health procedure, for which the provincial government refuses to recognize in their poliices. Hence, my friend was forced to sell her house in order to finance this $18K procedure out of her own pocket.

As Canada works towards implimenting Bill C-279, and as provinces push similar transgender human rights bills through their respective legislatures, I think it is time Moncton gets on board and takes action to ensure they don't face any further outcry from society, nor have to deal with human rights complaints.

In addition to asking that all three levels of Government cease from funding Crandall University, i would also like to take this opportunity to ask that the Province of New Brunswick's department of Health take action to recognize that trannsexual health care is indeed a medically-necessary situation, and to consider putting a policy in place to ensure that care recommended to trans patients by their doctors, is covered by provincial health care.

One thing that supposedly makes Canada so great is our apparent record on health care and human rights. I ask you all to take steps in the right direction to eliminate the gaps that are still felt harshly by members of the LGBT community.

As a trans advocate, i am more than welcome to offer my consulting services, free of charge, to help move these matters forward.

please do not hesitate to get in touch with me,

thank you for your attention to this matter,

Respectfully and Sincerely,

Jennifer McCreath
M2F Transition Consultant
http://www.jennifermccreath.com/
info@jennifermccreath.com
www.twitter.com/Jenn_McCreath
709-753-9529
http://www.npath.net/
http://twitter.com/npathdotnet


Sent today to:

mayor@moncton.ca, arnold@moncton.ca, crossman@moncton.ca, henderson@moncton.ca, hicks@moncton.ca, landry@moncton.ca, boudreau@moncton.ca, theriault@moncton.ca, charles.leger@moncton.ca, bourgeois@moncton.ca, pellerin@moncton.ca,

mike.allen@parl.gc.ca, keith.ashfield@parl.gc.ca, yvon.godin@parl.gc.ca, Robert.Goguen@parl.gc.ca, dominic.leblanc@parl.gc.ca, rob.moore@parl.gc.ca, tilly.oneillgordon@parl.gc.ca, Bernard.Valcourt@parl.gc.ca, rodney.weston@parl.gc.ca, John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca, stephen.harper@parl.gc.ca,

Greg.Davis@gnb.ca, donald.arseneault@gnb.ca, roland.hache@gnb.ca, brian.kenny@gnb.ca, Ryan.Riordon@gnb.ca, Hedard.Albert@gnb.ca, paul.robichaud@gnb.ca, denis.landry2@gnb.ca, claude.landry@gnb.ca, serge.j.robichaud@gnb.ca, bill.fraser@gnb.ca, Robert.Trevors@gnb.ca, Jake.Stewart@gnb.ca, Bertrand.LeBlanc@gnb.ca, Shawn.Graham2@gnb.ca, claude.williams@gnb.ca, victor.boudreau@gnb.ca, mike.olscamp@gnb.ca, bernard.leblanc@gnb.ca, Roger.L.Melanson@gnb.ca, chris.collins@gnb.ca, Sue.Stultz@gnb.ca, Marie-Claude.Blais@gnb.ca, johnw.betts@gnb.ca, Sherry.Wilson@gnb.ca, bruce.fitch@gnb.ca, wayne.steeves@gnb.ca, bruce.northrup@gnb.ca, bev.harrison@gnb.ca, Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca, Glen.Savoie@gnb.ca, Glen.Tait@gnb.ca, Carl.Killen@gnb.ca, trevor.holder@gnb.ca, Dorothy.Shephard@gnb.ca, Jim.Parrott@gnb.ca, rick.doucet@gnb.ca, Curtis.Malloch@gnb.ca, jody.carr@gnb.ca, Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca, Troy.Lifford@gnb.ca, Pam.Lynch@gnb.ca, Craig.Leonard@gnb.ca, Brian.T.Macdonald@gnb.ca, jack.carr@gnb.ca, carl.urquhart@gnb.ca, kirk.macdonald@gnb.ca, david.alward@gnb.ca, dale.graham@gnb.ca, Wes.McLean@gnb.ca, Danny.Soucy@gnb.ca, Martine.Coulombe@gnb.ca, madeleine.dube@gnb.ca, Yvon.Bonenfant@gnb.ca



CCed to:
jack.harris@parl.gc.ca, Ryan.Cleary@parl.gc.ca, thomas.mulcair@parl.gc.ca, bob.rae@parl.gc.ca, Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca,

BCCed to: UnSurDix & Moncton River of Pride

#crandallscandal #nbpoli #cdnpoli Follow @Jenn_McCreath Tweet

Jennifer McCreath 20 Questions The Telegram 05/12/2012

Review of Bill C-279 2nd Vote 06/06/2012

Well, last week Randall Garrison shocked everyone by announcing his willingness to remove the term "gender expression" from this bill, and add a definition for "gender identity"

well, whether or not this will prove to be the right thing, it may have helped get this Bill past a second vote.  The house passed the vote 150-132 on the strength of 15 Yes votes from Conservative Party members. 

Of note, Conservatives was the only party to have any negative votes cast, as all Bloc, NDP & Liberals voted yes, who were present, as did Elizabeth May of the Green Party and Bruce Hyer, an Independant.

Over the past week, I found myself reaching out to certain Conservatives for whom I had some sort of personal connection with, in hopes of gaining support.  While I have no idea whether or not my letter was influencial or not, I would like to personally thank one of my targetted MPs, Bernard Valcourt, for supporting the bill.

Later tonight, I will be Vloging about those targetted ones who voted no. I will also have some choice words for the various other No voters who I have highlighted below. So, stay tuned.  Meanwhile, here's a review of some key votes:

Conservative Yes:

Chris Alexander - Ajax Pickering
Michael Chong -Wellington-Halton Hills
John Duncan - Vancouver Island North
Kerry-Kynne Findlay - Delta - Richmond East
Jim Flaherty - Whitby-Oshawa
Shelly Glover - St. Boniface
Laurie Hawn - Edmonton Centre
Gerald Keddy -South Shore - St. Margaret
Cathy McLeod - Kamloops/Thompson/Cariboo
Lisa Raitt - Halton
Michelle Rempel - Calgary Centre North
Bruce Stanton - Simcoe North
Bernard Trottier - Etobicoke Lakeshore
Bernard Valcourt - Madawaska—Restigouche
David Wilks - Kootenay- Columbia

Notable No Votes:

Peter McKay
Tony Clement
Julian Fantino
Diane Finley
Brian Jean (Ft. McMurray/Athabasca)
Peter Kent
Denis Lebel
Bev Oda
Peter Penashue (Labrador)
Gail Shea
Vic Toews
Ted Opitz (Etobicoke Centre)
Robert Goguen (Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe)

Did not Vote:
Stephen Harper
Rona Ambrose

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30 minute interview to air Wed on Rogers Out of the Fog

Wednesday June 6, 2012 at 7.30 pm NDT, my 30 minute up-close-and-personal interview with Anna Delaney will air on Rogers TV Out of the Fog.  it will rerun every 30 minutes all evening.  Don't miss it! Follow @Jenn_McCreath Tweet

BIll C-279 in Trouble 06/04/2012

Time to write MPs to let them know of the importance of keeping this bill on the table. Passing of the second reading would send this bill to committee for further in depth review, which many in the House say is needed for it to be accepted.  a vote against it will kill it and transsexuals, transgenders, and other gender-variant people will continue to face explicit lack of human rights protection in this country.

you can find a list of MPs here:

http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?Language=E&TimePeriod=Current

the vote takes place Wednesday night. Follow @Jenn_McCreath Tweet

Trans Nova Scotian snubbed from Newfoundland Taavel Memorial

Now that the dust has sort of settled from the initial outburst of emotion from the murder of Ray Taavel in Halifax back in April, I thought now would be the time to raise issue with a rather unfortunate and disturbing situation that took place on April 24, 2012 in St. John's, NL. 

Two of the new members of St. John's Pride Inc Board of Directors, took the step to organize a memorial event for Ray.  They put on a great event and had many well-known members of the local gay/lesbian community in attendance to deliver a speech; however, noticeably absent was the presence of Nova Scotian born Newfoundlanders, as well as the lack of presence of members of the trans community. One after one, gay/lesbian speakers - most of whom represented youth support groups, used the LGBT term, yet no evidence of any trans presence was at the event.  While there has no doubt been friction between myself and supporters of the new Board members, a memorial event of this nature should have been a time to put differences aside. 

As a Halifax Nova-Scotian-born Newfoundland resident, and pretty much the only out member of the trans community, I can't help but feel disappointed that this new group decided not to invite me to speak.  Ray's death hit closer to home for me than it did for anyone else in attendance. 

Not only did this group miss out on a chance to prove that they could do a better job at being inclusive of the 'LGBT community" than myself and former Directors were, they completely demonstrated their lack of respect for me, for the trans community, and for Nova Scotian-born Newfoundland residents.

Fast forward now 6 weeks, and unfortunately, I do not feel this new group had made any further progress to demonstrate their ability to make me and other trans people feel welcome and included. It's a shame to see St. John's appear headed in the same direction as so many other cities - that being, that the trans feel alienated from Prides from the gays and lesbians.  Oh well, I knew there was this risk, but there was not much I could do. I have no regrets from leaving Pride and although it will be sad to think that there is a strong chance that I may not attend any of the Pride Week events, I can feel good about the fact that I have managed to put my time to other use in a way that will bring a much stronger and greater positive impact for the National and International Trans communities.
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