Language selector

gender identity

Gender identity is linked to a person’s sense of self, and the sense of being male or female. A person’s gender identity is different from their sexual orientation, which is also protected under the Code. People’s gender identity may be different from their birth-assigned sex.

OHRC submission regarding MGS Consultation: Change of sex designation on a birth registration of a minor

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) welcomes the Ministry of Government Services’ consultation regarding change of sex designation on a birth registration of a minor. The OHRC is concerned that the current government practice – which does not allow for a change of sex designation on the birth registration and certificate of persons under age 18 – is discriminatory on the basis of gender identity and gender expression.

Preventing sexual harassment at work: An overview

Webinar Information

Preventing sexual harassment at work: An overview

Sexual harassment at work

December 10, 2014 at 11:00 am

40 minutes

Overview on preventing sexual harassment at work, with Q&A.

English

Special report: gender identity and gender expression

From: Annual report 2013-2014: OHRC Today

New policy protects human rights of trans and gender-diverse people

The OHRC launched an im­portant new policy in Spring 2014, the Policy on preventing discrimination because of gender identity and gender expression. This policy fol­lowed the 2012 amendment to the Human Rights Code to add the grounds of gender identity and gender expres­sion. This change provides protection for one of the most vulnerable and margin­alized communities in society.

Gender identity and gender expression (brochure)

April 2014 - People who are transgender, or gender non-conforming, come from all walks of life. Yet they are one of the most disadvantaged groups in society. Trans people routinely experience discrimination, harassment and even violence because their gender identity or gender expression is different from their birth-assigned sex. Under the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) people are protected from discrimination and harassment because of gender identity and gender expression in employment, housing, facilities and services, contracts, and membership in unions, trade or professional associations.

3. Gender identity and gender expression

From: Policy on preventing discrimination because of gender identity and gender expression

The Code does not define the grounds of gender identity, gender expression or sex. Instead, the understanding of these and other related terms, and the implications for the Code and OHRC policies, is evolving from tribunal and court decisions, social science research as well as self identity and common everyday use.

Sex is the anatomical classification of people as male, female or intersex, usually assigned at birth.

Backgrounder – Talking about gender identity and gender expression

April 2014 ­­­­- Over the years, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has taken steps to address discrimination because of gender identity. In 1999, the OHRC released “Toward a Commission Policy on Gender Identity” for public comment. In 2000, the OHRC released its first Policy on discrimination and harassment because of gender identity, taking the position that the ground of “sex” could be interpreted to include gender identity. Following the release of this policy, the OHRC continued to call for explicit recognition of gender identity as a protected ground in Ontario”s Human Rights Code.

Policy on preventing discrimination because of gender identity and gender expression

April 2014 - People who are transgender, or gender non-conforming, come from all walks of life. Yet they are one of the most disadvantaged groups in society. Trans people routinely experience discrimination, harassment and even violence because their gender identity or gender expression is different from their birth-assigned sex. Under the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) people are protected from discrimination and harassment because of gender identity and gender expression in employment, housing, facilities and services, contracts, and membership in unions, trade or professional associations.

Restrictions of facilities by sex

From: Guide to your rights and responsibilities under the Human Rights Code

This section allows separate washrooms, examination areas, change rooms and other services that are men-only or women-only. Trans people should be provided access to facilities that are consistent with their lived gender identity.[34]


[34] For more information, see the OHRC’s Policy on discrimination and harassment because of gender identity (2000).

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - gender identity