Senate Likely to Quash Transsexual Rights Bill Passed in House

A bill to enshrine gender identity in human rights legislation was passed by the House of Commons Thursday.

The legislation is a private member’s bill put forth by NDP MP Bill Siksay and surprised observers by narrowly passing in a 143-135 vote this week with support from all parties. It would make it illegal to discriminate against transsexual people in any environment. Stephen Harper and most Conservatives opposed the bill, which critics say will allow sexual predators to invade female washrooms by allowing them to claim they identify as female. Indications are that the Tory-controlled Senate will kill the legislation, and should senators vote it down it will likely renew calls to reform the role of the upper chamber, which is unelected but has been used recently to reverse several decisions made in the House that the minority Conservatives oppose.