Transgender 10-year-old Charlie Lowthian-Rickert stood beside Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould on Tuesday as the Liberal government introduced legislation that would make it illegal to discriminate based on gender identity or expression
Wilson-Raybould quoted Lowthian-Rickert in her speech today and acknowledged that this legislation, Bill C-16, would help to protect youth who are being bullied or discriminated against.
“The bill will protect me,” Lowthian-Rickert told CTV News Channel in an interview. She said she’s never experienced any assaults in the past but knows that the potential is always there. She said that if this bill does pass it would not only legally protect her but would also help to inform people who may not understand her.
“Some people have the knowledge to know that transgender people are the same as the common population,” said Lowthian-Rickert. “With this new law in Canada, more (transgender) people might feel safer and come forward. This might lead to a much bigger aspect of protection.”
An attempt at a similar bill was made last year but was unsuccessful. The bill – when it was originally tabled – would have given Lowthian-Rickert the same protections that Bill C-16 offers now. However, Conservative Senator Don Plett made a sex vs. gender amendment to the bill, which would have allowed gender expression everywhere except for washrooms, change rooms, shelters and even sports teams.
Lowthian-Rickert acknowledged had that bill passed, she would have felt less safe and would have been missing vital protections.
Bill C-16 would prevent discrimination when applying for jobs as well as update criminal law to make it a hate crime if someone was targeted due to their gender identity. The Criminal Code’s hate speech laws would also be extended to include gender identity and expression.
