Gender identity, expression added to City of Vancouver's anti-harassment policy
CITY HALL
Jeremy Hainsworth / Vancouver / Thursday, January 28, 2010
Share |

Rules barring discrimination on the grounds of gender identity, gender expression and perceptions of sexual orientation and gender are now part of the City of Vancouver’s harassment-free workplace policy.
 
The city’s LGBTQ Citizens Advisory Committee recommended that they be included.
 
City council passed the new policy unanimously Jan 21. 
 
“It sends a message throughout the system that we will not accept discrimination,” says lesbian city councillor Ellen Woodsworth. 
 
The new policy will be forwarded to the Vancouver Police Department and Vancouver Fire and Rescue services “to see if they can expand their policies,” Woodsworth adds.
 
“It’s a step toward us getting the language into the [provincial] Human Rights Code,” Vancouver School board trustee Jane Bouey says. 
 
While sexual orientation is included as a protected category in the code, gender identity and expression are not explicitly listed.
 
“If they had it there, we wouldn’t have to have it in every institution,” she adds.
 
What’s more, says Bouey, the concept of perception is vital for inclusion.
 
She points to the case of former North Vancouver school district student Azmi Jubran, who was taunted and bullied in high school with homophobic epithets. He is not gay.
 
“Anybody can be the victim of homophobia or transphobia,” Bouey notes. 
 


Share |


Reader Comments

These reader comments are posted directly. No editorial review is made prior to posting. Readers may contact the moderator with any complaints or concerns, and these will be reviewed within two business days.

 
Good!
it's about time!
Michael, Vancouver BC
01/29/10 10:40 AM EST
Report this comment to moderator.
Post Your Comment!
Your Name:
(required)


City/Town:
(required)


Province:
(required)




Email Address:
(required)



For verification purposes only. Not for publication, nor released to any mailing list. (Privacy statement)

Title of your comment:
(required)


Your Comment: (max. 2000 characters)
(required)
characters remaining

 Refresh
Enter the code shown on the left (case-sensitive):
(required)




   
Click here to read guidelines

Guidelines for reader comments

All submissions are reviewed by our editorial team. Comments are subject to editing for clarification, style and content. We reserve the right to refuse submissions.

Your comment must directly relate to the subject of the article.

Avoid confusing statements; express your thoughts clearly and succinctly so readers will understand your opinion. Do not post superficial comments, such as a phrase of just a few words.

Postings that include promotion of products, services or events will be
refused.

Your comment and name may also be published in a Xtra paper.

Publication of your comments on Xtra.ca or in an Xtra paper is not an endorsement of your views by Xtra.ca or Pink Triangle Press.

Please note that anything you write in your comment (for example: your name, city) may be indexed by search engines. If you are concerned about your privacy, consider using your first name or initials only.