A History of Queer Resistance in Canada Part 2: Trans Resistance
Trans folks in Canada have faced various forms of discrimination, exclusion, and violence, which the trans community has responded to by organizing, advocating, and resisting systemic injustices. This resistance has contributed to legal advancements, increased visibility, and greater societal understanding of not only trans experience, but the entire 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
It is critical to name that the violence faced by the trans community arises from the colonial gender binary, which is entwined with partriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism. In this way, the fates of trans people are intrinsically bound with the fates of everyone who is oppressed by these violent systems. Trans people who embody multiple targeted identities, like racialized or disabled trans people, face exponentially more violence. Global political shifts toward far-right sentiments in recent years have inspired more violence against trans people, as the right organizes their movements to target those with the fewest protections.
Trans people have always been at the center and in the frontlines of 2SLGBTQIA+ resistance at large, and many advancements for rights within the queer community rest on the shoulders of trans folks. From the critical roles played by Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy at Stonewall, to the establishment of groups like Trans Pride Canada and Gender Creative Kids Canada who advocate for comprehensive healthcare, mental health support, and legal protections, trans people have fought for the rights of the entire community. Trans resistance has also been visible in challenging the gender binary and advocating for non-binary and genderqueer identities as the trans community pushes for the recognition of non-binary gender markers on official documents and the inclusion of non-binary people in discussions about gender equity and diversity.
One notable victory arising from trans resistance in Canada is the fight for legal recognition and protection. Prior to 2017, trans people in many provinces had to undergo invasive medical procedures and obtain a diagnosis of "gender dysphoria" to change their gender marker on legal documents. Activists and advocacy groups, such as the Trans Equality Society of Alberta and Trans Equality Canada, pushed for gender identity to be recognized as a protected characteristic in human rights legislation. In 2017, the Canadian federal government introduced Bill C-16, which added "gender identity" and "gender expression" as prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act. This legislation aimed to protect trans people from discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment, housing, and public services. The passage of Bill C-16 was a significant victory for trans rights activists and marked an important step towards legal recognition and protection.
Trans resistance has contributed to legal advancements, increased visibility, and greater societal understanding of not only trans experience, but the entire 2SLGBTQIA+ community. However, the fight for trans rights and safety in Canada is ongoing, as trans folks continue face a concerted effort from the far-right to undo legal protections and increase anti-trans sentiments and violence. Intersectional issues faced by trans people from marginalized communities, such as Indigenous and racialized communities, require urgent attention and mobilization from trans allies and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community at large.
Photo courtesy of Vice’s Gender Spectrum Collection.
