Gender Advocacy Centre Challenges Quebec Law

Concordia's Centre for Gender Advocacy claims that bills 35 and 71 of the Quebec Civil code are discriminatory against trans individuals. The centre plans on challenging the law in court.

According to the Link, the bill states that is someone wants to legally change their gender on government documents, they must be 18, a Canadian citizen and undergo sex reassignment surgery.

According to Gabrielle Bouchard, Advocacy Coordinator at the Centre, this forces people who want to legally change their gender to undergo forced sterilization.

The Current suicide rate of trans individuals, according to Bouchard, is 40 per cent.

The centre, which promotes gender rights and equality, initially took the issue to the Human rights Commission last August.

The centre hopes to one day eliminate the discriminatory law.

STORY BY HANNAH BESSEAU