1st Session, 43rd Legislature

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Bill 208

THE TWO-SPIRIT AND TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY ACT (COMMEMORATION OF DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS ACT AMENDED)

(Assented to                                         )

HIS MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

C.C.S.M. c. C150.5 amended

1   The Commemoration of Days, Weeks and Months Act is amended by this Act.

2   The following is added after Schedule 5:

SCHEDULE 5.1
TWO-SPIRIT AND TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY

WHEREAS people who are two-spirit, transgender or non-binary are deserving of dignity, respect and freedom to live their lives fully and with meaning as their true selves;

AND WHEREAS throughout history and across cultures and societies around the world, there have always existed people who have challenged binary conceptions of gender;

AND WHEREAS the latest census data indicates that approximately 1 in 300 Canadians 15 years of age or older is two-spirit, transgender or non-binary;

AND WHEREAS the contributions of two-spirit, transgender and non-binary people at the forefront of the 2SLGBTQ+ liberation movement have been overlooked through the years;

AND WHEREAS colonization, discrimination, transphobia, anti-trans laws and other policies and disinformation campaigns seek to hinder and erase the existence of two-spirit, transgender and non-binary people;

AND WHEREAS two-spirit, transgender and non-binary people experience disproportionately higher rates of mental illness and suicide given the stigma created by societal attitudes, ignorance and discriminatory government policies and health care practices, including the denial of gender-affirming care;

AND WHEREAS the impacts of transphobia and discrimination are compounded by the effects of colonization and are experienced even more deeply by two-spirit, transgender and non-binary people who are Indigenous, Black or people of colour;

AND WHEREAS two-spirit, transgender and non-binary youth have agency over their lives, understand the concepts of gender expression and gender identity and appreciate that access to gender-affirming care means better mental health outcomes;

AND WHEREAS on March 31, 2009, Rachel Crandall-Crocker founded the International Transgender Day of Visibility dedicated to the vibrant, resilient, living spirit of the transgender community;

AND WHEREAS the Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility will provide Manitobans with the opportunity to celebrate and support full and visible participation in Manitoba of the people in our community who are two-spirit, transgender or non-binary;

AND WHEREAS the Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility will be a day to demonstrate to Manitoba's two-spirit, transgender and non-binary youth that they are seen and heard and that they are cherished and deserving of safe and inclusive spaces in Manitoba to hope, learn, grow and thrive, now and in the future;

THEREFORE the following is proclaimed throughout Manitoba:

Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility

1   In each year, March 31 is to be known as the Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility.

Coming into force

3   This Act comes into force on the day it receives royal assent.