Bill C-16 enshrines the rights of transgender and gender-diverse people in the Canadian Human Rights Act. Passed in June 2017, it has become part of a larger conversation surrounding gender, pronoun use and freedom of speech. Yet many older community members still experience transphobia, sparking the idea of an annual International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, often referred to as Trans Day of Visibility.
Transgender Day of Visibility
Trans Day of Visibility dates back to 2009 when American Rachel Crandall Crocker noted the lack of 2SLGBTQI+ recognition of transgender people. Crandall Crocker sought to acknowledge and celebrate living trans folks and created the day as a counterpoint to the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Older Adults Face Transphobia in Care
Many older trans people face abuse and neglect in a variety of ways: denial of rental accommodations, misgendering, bullying, and poor access to respectful health, social and transportation services, as reported in Aging and Living Well Among LGBTQI Older Adults in Canada: Findings from a National Study.
The report notes that healthcare is a significant barrier, from trans elders who were unable to access gender-affirming care to the system not recognizing or respecting their spouses or partners.
And as the generation who fought hard for equal rights, many 2SLGBTQI+ seniors are contemplating returning to the closet for fear of abuse and neglect in long-term care homes.
“As a trans man, I’ve experienced a fair bit of transphobia from healthcare professionals,” says 59-year-old Ben Murray of Ottawa, who works with staff and volunteers in long-term care facilities. “I believe I’d face the same or even higher levels of discrimination in a long-term care facility at a time when I’d presumably be much more vulnerable. And that scares me.”
How to Recognize Trans Awareness Week
Here are some ideas from Canadian Equality Consulting:
- Learn more about the challenges facing the transgender community
- Support transgender creators by watching their films, listening to their podcasts and streaming their music
- Explore transgender history in Canada
- Commit to fighting transphobia in all forms and manifestations
“Sexual and Gender Diversity for Human Services Organizations” is our April 2025 Provincial Learning Event webinar. Horst Backe, Coordinator of the LOVE CRN on Vancouver Island, will present timely information followed by a Q&A. Register for the webinar here.
Explore our website to learn more about BC CRN or connect with your local CRN for more information or resources.
