The bad faith “debate” about trans human rights
Recently, the National Post published a discussion that I engaged in with Jonathan Kay. I participated in that because it was an opportunity to provide a counterpoint for readers who…
Sex and Gender Minorities
On “Unalienable” Human Rights
Screen capture, launch of the Commission on Unalienable Rights On Monday, July 8th, the U.S. State Department announced the launch of a Commission on Unalienable Rights, which is intended to…
Free Speech, When The “Debate” is You (and You’re Not Invited)
Shout: “Help, I’m being silenced!” There’s a duplicitous game of sleight-of-hand that is taking place in discussions about freedom of speech in academia and the public square. Here’s how it…
Gospel By Gaslight
If gaslighting is “a form of manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or members of a group, hoping to make targets question their own…
Trans* Human Rights Bill C-16: A Look Back
Although I’ll be remarking on the passing of Bill C-16 elsewhere, I wanted to post Bill Siksay’s closing speech from February 7, 2011, back when the bill was in its…
What the “Walk on the Wild Side” controversy says about trans* awareness and a changing social movement
A little over a week ago, a University of Guelph student union drew international ire for condemning Lou Reed’s 1972 song “Walk on the Wild Side” as transphobic. This occurred…
Free speech, and the cruel shackles of empathy and mutual respect
In Canada, we tend to value freedom of speech very highly, and it’s often said that the best way to counter objectionable speech is with more speech. That’s the first…
Canada’s forthcoming “drop your pants” trans* blood donation policy
In addition to reducing the required wait time between having sex and donating blood to one year for gay men, Canadian Blood Services is poised to release its first-ever guidance…
Indiana put the lie to “religious freedom.” But Canadian Evangelicals hope you didn’t notice.
Everyone’s familiar with the old adage, “be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.” Which is why the Evangelical leaders who held a press conference on…
Indiana put the lie to “religious freedom.” But Canadian Evangelicals hope you didn’t notice.
Everyone’s familiar with the old adage, “be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.” Which is why the Evangelical leaders who held a press conference on…
“A little free speech for me, and a little shut-up-and-take-it-like-a-man for you.”
There’s a bit of controversy brewing in the UK press, as a result of a letter from academics and activists (including noted LGB activist Peter Tatchell, as well as some…
“A little free speech for me, and a little shut-up-and-take-it-like-a-man for you.”
There’s a bit of controversy brewing in the UK press, as a result of a letter from academics and activists (including noted LGB activist Peter Tatchell, as well as some…
Our destinies are bound together (even if our needs are diverse and sometimes at odds)
Monica Roberts at TransGriot is exploring the future of the trans* movement: “One of the things I was pondering recently was triggered by me seeing a pic of a five…
On conscience-based medical exemptions
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is currently reviewing its Human Rights Code policy on conscience-based exemptions for medical professionals, and their effect on access to medical services.…
Keeping safe at the corner of trans* and BDSM
Somewhere at the intersection of trans* and BDSM, this happened: “Three people have been arrested for allegedly keeping a transgender woman as a slave in the Ajax area of Natchitoches…
Keeping safe at the corner of trans* and BDSM
Somewhere at the intersection of trans* and BDSM, this happened: “Three people have been arrested for allegedly keeping a transgender woman as a slave in the Ajax area of Natchitoches…
The Department of Justice Public Consultation on sex work ends Monday March 17th.
The Department of Justice Public Consultation on sex work closes March 17, 2014. Although the questions appear to be stacked, it’s important that people who support decriminalization participate. There’s certainly…
The Department of Justice Public Consultation on sex work ends Monday March 17th.
The Department of Justice Public Consultation on sex work closes March 17, 2014. Although the questions appear to be stacked, it’s important that people who support decriminalization participate. There’s certainly…