JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER.
1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
UPDATE-MAY 16,2016-12:00PM
OBAMA QUOTES FROM THE BIBLE LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF. AS HE AWARDS 13 MEDAL OF VALOR MEDALS TO THE POLICE OFFERS. WHO DONE HEROIC ACTS FOR CITIZENS OF THEIR CITIES. BUT OBAMAS SUCH A HYPOCRITE. HE RACE BAITED AGAINST WHITE OFFICERS THAT ARRESTS BLACK-GANG BANGING-DRUG DEALING CRIMINAL THUGS. THAT END UP DEAD FROM THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIONS. BUT OBAMA AND THE LAME BRAIN-LAME STREAM MEDIA CRY FOWL AND RACISM AGAINST THE WHITE POLICE OFFICERS. THEN OBAMA SUCK HOLES UP TO HIS SUNNI-ARAB-MUSLIM BRETHERN. CRYING ISLAMOPHOBIA AGAINST ANYONE WHO CALLS THESE VICOUS-ISLAMIC-BEHEADING MURDERERS - TERRORISTS. OBAMA CALLS ISLAM A PEACEFUL RELIGION. WHEN ISLAM AND THE QURAN ARE A ISRAEL-CHRISTIAN-JESUS HATING CULT. THAT WANTS EVERY OTHER RELIGION KILLED OFF OF THE EARTH. SO ISLAM IS THE ONLY WORLD RELIGION BY THE SWORD OF DEATH. AND ALSO OBAMA SUCK HOLES UP TO SODOMITES AND HAS JUST SAID ALL SCHOOLS WILL LOSE THEIR FUNDING IF BOYS AND GIRLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE SAME WASHROOMS AND SHOWERS. IF A GUY FEELS LIKE A GIRL THAT DAY. HE CAN SHOWER WITH THE GIRLS AND USE THEIR WASHROOM WITH THEM. OR THE SAME FOR GIRLS OR WOMEN. OH BUT OBAMA SAYS HES NOT A DIVIDER. HE IS THE SUNNI-ARAB MUSLIM SAVIOR OF AMERICA. AND IF HITLARY 2ND ROTTEN LIAR CLINTON IS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF AMERICA LATER THIS YEAR. SHE WILL CONTINUE OBAMAS LOVE OF SIN-RACE BAITING-SUCK HOLING UP TO EVERY MINORITY IMMORAL SIN INFESTER. BUT HITLARY WILL GO ONE STEP FURTHUR. SHE WILL OUTLAW CHRISTIANITY OUT RIGHT. ONCE AND FOR ALL SO ISLAM CAN RULE AMERICA AS THE ONLY RELIGION. AMERICA BETTER VOTE DONALD TRUMP IN AS PRESIDENT. HES THE LEAST OF THE TWO LIARS. I DO NOT CONDONE LYING. BUT WHEN YOU GOT TWO LIARS. ONE HAS TO BE ELECTED THE NEW PRESIDENT. TRUMP LIES DECEPTIVLY. BUT HILLARY CLINTON JUST OUT RIGHT LIES. AND THE LEFTWING-LIBERAL-DEMOCRATS AND GODLESS MEDIA ALL SUCK HOLE UP TO CLINTON. AMERICA IS SUCH A GREAT COUNTRY.
CANADA IS STARTING TO DO THIS WASHROOM NONSENSE ALSO.REDICULAS.CANADA AND AMERICA WILL BE JUDGED AS A RESULT OF THIS GODLESS SINFULNESS.SINCE THE LIBERALS ARE TAKING AFTER AMERICA WITH THIS REDICULAS BATHROOM NONSENSE.THE AMERICANS WILL BE TAKING AFTER THE CANADIAN LIBERAL-DEMOCRATS WITH DOCTOR ASSISTED KILLING OR LEGAL MURDER-SUICIDE.AS I CALL IT.
Liberals unveil plan to outlaw transgender hate speech, discrimination-[The Canadian Press]-Jordan Press, The Canadian Press-May 17, 2016-yahoonews
OTTAWA - For years, transgender Canadians had to come up with creative arguments in front of courts and commissions to link discrimination against them with existing human rights laws.The human rights laws extend some protections to transgender people under the sex discrimination category, but there have been few cases before the federal human rights tribunal, so the scope of the protections themselves has not been all that clear.The same situation exists for hate speech and hate crime laws: violence against transgender persons may have been captured before, but it wasn't clearly spelled out.Legislation the government introduced Tuesday would clarify all of that, adding gender identity and expression to human rights and hate crime laws."Thank goodness this bill is passing because it will protect us from ... hateful propaganda, assaults, rape — stuff like that," said Charlie Lowthian-Rickert, who was born a boy but identifies as a girl."It could protect us and stop the people who would have just gone off and done it in the past and discriminated or assaulted us. Now it could be stopping them and then basically punishing them if they actually do it," the 10-year-old said during a morning news conference alongside the federal justice minister.The bill still has numerous steps before it becomes law. The NDP tried unsuccessfully to fast-track the measure through the House of Commons on Tuesday, arguing it was similar to a private member's bill the Commons approved in the last Parliament with cross-party support.That bill, from New Democrat Randall Garrison, languished in the Senate before it was ultimately gutted and died when the election was called.Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose said she's prepared to vote for the new bill, but opposition remains in the Senate where Conservative Don Plett said he's not ready to support the measure.On his way into the Commons, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expects the Senate to recognize the rights contained in the bill.The legislation would, if passed, make it illegal under the Canadian Human Rights Act to deny someone a job or to discriminate in the workplace on the basis of the gender they identify with or outwardly express.It would also amend the Criminal Code to extend hate speech laws to include gender identity and expression.Criminal laws would be changed to make it a hate crime to target someone because of their gender identity or gender expression, meaning judges would have to consider it as an aggravating factor in deciding on a sentence to."We live in a time when discrimination in any form is completely unacceptable," Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould told a news conference after introducing the bill."This is a message of hope to ensure that we recognize gender identity and gender expression and provide the ability in our country for people to feel safe and secure in who they are."She said it is necessary to make it unequivocal in law that transgender persons have the right to live free from discrimination, hate propaganda and hate crimes.The law was introduced on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.Wilson-Raybould wouldn't say whether Liberal MPs would be allowed to vote their conscience on the bill or be forced to support it. But she said she hopes for support from all parties.The minister also said the law, when passed, would ensure data is collected around violence against transgender people.A survey conducted by Trans Pulse Project in 2010 showed that out of the almost 500 transgender respondents in Ontario, 20 per cent reported having been physically or sexually assaulted, though not all of them reported the assaults to police.The respondent-driven sampling survey found 13 per cent reported being fired and 18 per cent refused a job because they were transgender.Groups including Trans Equality Canada, Amnesty International, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the Canadian Association of University Teachers all praised the move by the Liberals, calling it long overdue in the path towards equal rights for all.Once passed, the Canadian Human Rights Commission would likely provide detailed guidance to employers and employment lawyers about what the new laws mean and raise awareness among the general public."It's a good first step because that allows for the ability at the federal level to challenge things in court if needed," said Talia Johnson, an Ottawa-based counsellor."Any human rights legislation only goes so far, so we need to also work on education so that cases don't have to come forward in the first place."— With files from Lina Dib and Joanna Smith.Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version had an incorrect spelling for Charlie Lowthian-Rickert's last name.
Morning Brief: Tuesday, May 17, 2016-MorningBriefDisplay-Today’s Morning Brief is brought to you by Boeing, builder of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.may 17,16-ipoloitics
Justin Trudeau promises ‘full protection’ with transgender rights bill — Liberals caught short on key bill; Speaker casts rare tie-breaking vote — NDP will vote against Liberals’ electoral reform committee motion: Mulcair — Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan grilled by MPs in special session tonight— ‘Extreme fire behaviour’ forces thousands from Fort McMurray camps — Will Canada violate international conventions if it legalizes pot? Bill Blair doesn’t think so — Saudi Arabia suspends cultural festival in Ottawa amid outcry over arms deal — Has Bernie Sanders become this election’s Ralph Nader? — Trump making friends across the pond — And finally, a real handful-Good Tuesday morning to you.As a battle over bathrooms is waged in some parts of the United States, here at home, there’s little sign of a similar kind of pottygate. In contrast, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is set to unveil legislation to protect transgendered Canadians. “I am proud to announce that tomorrow, on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we will be tabling a bill in the House of Commons to ensure the full protection of transgender people,” he said. It’s been a long time coming, but the government is hoping the bill will lead by example.Back in school, no good ever came from skipping class. This week’s lesson? Not much good comes from skipping House either. Yesterday for the Liberals, a pop procedural test meant winning a vote by the skin of their teeth. The Conservatives and NDP joined forces to force a vote while too many Liberals were away from the House, leaving Speaker Geoff Regan cast the tie-breaking vote on a 139-139 count — for just the 11th time in Canadian history. Our Elizabeth Thompson has that story.As for the Liberals’ electoral reform committee motion, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair says he’s voting against that as well. NDP democratic reform critic Nathan Cullen hasn’t said he’ll voted against it, but has called for the Liberals to “commit to true cross-party collaboration, and give all parties a real seat at the table.”Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan faced a grilling last night before a special session of Parliament. He told the committee of the whole that his government has no plan to shut down any military bases and insisted that opposition accusations his government has cut $3.7 billion in defence spending from DND “couldn’t be further from the truth.” CBC News has more.
More transgender bathrooms pop up in Winnipeg-[CBC]-May 16, 2016-YAHOONEWS
It seems many Winnipeg establishments are ahead of the curve for respecting the rights of LGBT people — at least when it comes to using the loo.On Tuesday the federal Liberals are expected to propose legislation that will give legal and human rights protection to transgender people, following through on a pledge made during the election campaign.Already though, a handful of establishments in Winnipeg offer a gender-neutral bathroom option for transgender people.The University of Winnipeg was one of the first places in Winnipeg to offer gender-neutral washrooms but in 2016 it's hardly unique.Newly-opened Oh Doughnuts on Broadway in Winnipeg offers one as does the Tallest Poppy on Sherbrook Street, The Good Will on Portage Avenue, the University of Manitoba and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights."I think it's important that everybody feels safe and welcome," said Amanda Kinden, owner of Oh Doughnuts.Kinden said the decision to offer bathrooms for people who may not feel comfortable in conventional male or female washrooms was an easy decision."We are all human. We're different. We should embrace the differences we have and allow people to feel comfortable about them," Kinden said.Winnipegger Theo DeSilva was born a girl and recently transitioned to a man. He said he's encountered verbal abuse using washrooms in the past."You don't belong in here, you're not a male, you're in the wrong washroom," are some of the insults men have hurled at DeSilva just for using the bathroom, he said."Like no, I'm here to pee. I'm not going to be looking into your stall. We're not here to do anything else but do our business and leave. That's what washrooms are for," he said.Transgender woman Trish McNorgan said she's had no issues finding safe washroom spaces in Winnipeg but she worries about a potential backlash to the trend.In the United States, South Carolina recently passed a law restricting the use of public restrooms by transgender people.McNorgan worries about what the U.S. Attorney General called "state-sponsored discrimination" could spread here, despite the Liberals's efforts."Were such a much more tolerant society than those pockets of those states where there is difficulty it's a concern that it could be exported here," said McNorgan.Talia Syrie, co-owner of Tallest Poppy, said some customers have raised questions about the restaurant's washroom."People are confused by it they don't understand. But when we explain it to them they are generally fine with it, some people are really, really happy about it," she said.
Transgender Edmontonian travels to Ottawa for 'historic event'-[CBC]-May 17, 2016-YAHOONEWS
A transgender woman from Edmonton plans to be in the House of Commons on Tuesday to mark what she calls an "indescribable" day for Canada.Marni Panas wants to witness for herself the tabling of legislation expected to give legal and human rights protections to transgender people."We've had people struggling for years and years and years to get to this point," said Panas, a well-known advocate for LGBTQ issues in Alberta.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised the legislation during the federal election campaign last fall, after similar bills were passed in the House of Commons twice, then defeated in the Senate.Last week, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould told the House of Commons "legislation will be coming forward very shortly."Panas said while the Charter already protects equal rights, new legislation is needed to expand those protections to include gender identity."Many people will want to send a lot of myths about transgender people, and somehow connect us to predators or something absolutely ridiculous," said Panas.On Saturday at the Alberta legislature, Panas faced up to people opposed to a provincial government bill to allow gay-straight alliances in schools.She helped organize a demonstration supporting transgender rights, then later clashed with another group holding their own rally against Bill 10.The Trans Equality Society of Alberta, a group that fights for transgender Albertans, said new federal legislation could make a big difference for many people.The group said gender diverse Canadians still face challenges accessing some federal services."Amending the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to include gender identity are important steps towards trans Canadians having the opportunity to have the promise of equality fulfilled," said Jan Buterman, president of TESA, who also plans to be in the House of Commons on Tuesday.Panas said after all the hard work by so many people, it's an honour to see their effort come to fruition."We are moving forward as a society and there's no going back," she said.May 17 is a significant day for LGBTQ people around the world. It's commemorated annually as the day the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1990.
OBAMA QUOTES FROM THE BIBLE LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF. AS HE AWARDS 13 MEDAL OF VALOR MEDALS TO THE POLICE OFFERS. WHO DONE HEROIC ACTS FOR CITIZENS OF THEIR CITIES. BUT OBAMAS SUCH A HYPOCRITE. HE RACE BAITED AGAINST WHITE OFFICERS THAT ARRESTS BLACK-GANG BANGING-DRUG DEALING CRIMINAL THUGS. THAT END UP DEAD FROM THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIONS. BUT OBAMA AND THE LAME BRAIN-LAME STREAM MEDIA CRY FOWL AND RACISM AGAINST THE WHITE POLICE OFFICERS. THEN OBAMA SUCK HOLES UP TO HIS SUNNI-ARAB-MUSLIM BRETHERN. CRYING ISLAMOPHOBIA AGAINST ANYONE WHO CALLS THESE VICOUS-ISLAMIC-BEHEADING MURDERERS - TERRORISTS. OBAMA CALLS ISLAM A PEACEFUL RELIGION. WHEN ISLAM AND THE QURAN ARE A ISRAEL-CHRISTIAN-JESUS HATING CULT. THAT WANTS EVERY OTHER RELIGION KILLED OFF OF THE EARTH. SO ISLAM IS THE ONLY WORLD RELIGION BY THE SWORD OF DEATH. AND ALSO OBAMA SUCK HOLES UP TO SODOMITES AND HAS JUST SAID ALL SCHOOLS WILL LOSE THEIR FUNDING IF BOYS AND GIRLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE SAME WASHROOMS AND SHOWERS. IF A GUY FEELS LIKE A GIRL THAT DAY. HE CAN SHOWER WITH THE GIRLS AND USE THEIR WASHROOM WITH THEM. OR THE SAME FOR GIRLS OR WOMEN. OH BUT OBAMA SAYS HES NOT A DIVIDER. HE IS THE SUNNI-ARAB MUSLIM SAVIOR OF AMERICA. AND IF HITLARY 2ND ROTTEN LIAR CLINTON IS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF AMERICA LATER THIS YEAR. SHE WILL CONTINUE OBAMAS LOVE OF SIN-RACE BAITING-SUCK HOLING UP TO EVERY MINORITY IMMORAL SIN INFESTER. BUT HITLARY WILL GO ONE STEP FURTHUR. SHE WILL OUTLAW CHRISTIANITY OUT RIGHT. ONCE AND FOR ALL SO ISLAM CAN RULE AMERICA AS THE ONLY RELIGION. AMERICA BETTER VOTE DONALD TRUMP IN AS PRESIDENT. HES THE LEAST OF THE TWO LIARS. I DO NOT CONDONE LYING. BUT WHEN YOU GOT TWO LIARS. ONE HAS TO BE ELECTED THE NEW PRESIDENT. TRUMP LIES DECEPTIVLY. BUT HILLARY CLINTON JUST OUT RIGHT LIES. AND THE LEFTWING-LIBERAL-DEMOCRATS AND GODLESS MEDIA ALL SUCK HOLE UP TO CLINTON. AMERICA IS SUCH A GREAT COUNTRY.
CANADA IS STARTING TO DO THIS WASHROOM NONSENSE ALSO.REDICULAS.CANADA AND AMERICA WILL BE JUDGED AS A RESULT OF THIS GODLESS SINFULNESS.SINCE THE LIBERALS ARE TAKING AFTER AMERICA WITH THIS REDICULAS BATHROOM NONSENSE.THE AMERICANS WILL BE TAKING AFTER THE CANADIAN LIBERAL-DEMOCRATS WITH DOCTOR ASSISTED KILLING OR LEGAL MURDER-SUICIDE.AS I CALL IT.
Liberals unveil plan to outlaw transgender hate speech, discrimination-[The Canadian Press]-Jordan Press, The Canadian Press-May 17, 2016-yahoonews
OTTAWA - For years, transgender Canadians had to come up with creative arguments in front of courts and commissions to link discrimination against them with existing human rights laws.The human rights laws extend some protections to transgender people under the sex discrimination category, but there have been few cases before the federal human rights tribunal, so the scope of the protections themselves has not been all that clear.The same situation exists for hate speech and hate crime laws: violence against transgender persons may have been captured before, but it wasn't clearly spelled out.Legislation the government introduced Tuesday would clarify all of that, adding gender identity and expression to human rights and hate crime laws."Thank goodness this bill is passing because it will protect us from ... hateful propaganda, assaults, rape — stuff like that," said Charlie Lowthian-Rickert, who was born a boy but identifies as a girl."It could protect us and stop the people who would have just gone off and done it in the past and discriminated or assaulted us. Now it could be stopping them and then basically punishing them if they actually do it," the 10-year-old said during a morning news conference alongside the federal justice minister.The bill still has numerous steps before it becomes law. The NDP tried unsuccessfully to fast-track the measure through the House of Commons on Tuesday, arguing it was similar to a private member's bill the Commons approved in the last Parliament with cross-party support.That bill, from New Democrat Randall Garrison, languished in the Senate before it was ultimately gutted and died when the election was called.Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose said she's prepared to vote for the new bill, but opposition remains in the Senate where Conservative Don Plett said he's not ready to support the measure.On his way into the Commons, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expects the Senate to recognize the rights contained in the bill.The legislation would, if passed, make it illegal under the Canadian Human Rights Act to deny someone a job or to discriminate in the workplace on the basis of the gender they identify with or outwardly express.It would also amend the Criminal Code to extend hate speech laws to include gender identity and expression.Criminal laws would be changed to make it a hate crime to target someone because of their gender identity or gender expression, meaning judges would have to consider it as an aggravating factor in deciding on a sentence to."We live in a time when discrimination in any form is completely unacceptable," Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould told a news conference after introducing the bill."This is a message of hope to ensure that we recognize gender identity and gender expression and provide the ability in our country for people to feel safe and secure in who they are."She said it is necessary to make it unequivocal in law that transgender persons have the right to live free from discrimination, hate propaganda and hate crimes.The law was introduced on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.Wilson-Raybould wouldn't say whether Liberal MPs would be allowed to vote their conscience on the bill or be forced to support it. But she said she hopes for support from all parties.The minister also said the law, when passed, would ensure data is collected around violence against transgender people.A survey conducted by Trans Pulse Project in 2010 showed that out of the almost 500 transgender respondents in Ontario, 20 per cent reported having been physically or sexually assaulted, though not all of them reported the assaults to police.The respondent-driven sampling survey found 13 per cent reported being fired and 18 per cent refused a job because they were transgender.Groups including Trans Equality Canada, Amnesty International, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the Canadian Association of University Teachers all praised the move by the Liberals, calling it long overdue in the path towards equal rights for all.Once passed, the Canadian Human Rights Commission would likely provide detailed guidance to employers and employment lawyers about what the new laws mean and raise awareness among the general public."It's a good first step because that allows for the ability at the federal level to challenge things in court if needed," said Talia Johnson, an Ottawa-based counsellor."Any human rights legislation only goes so far, so we need to also work on education so that cases don't have to come forward in the first place."— With files from Lina Dib and Joanna Smith.Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version had an incorrect spelling for Charlie Lowthian-Rickert's last name.
Morning Brief: Tuesday, May 17, 2016-MorningBriefDisplay-Today’s Morning Brief is brought to you by Boeing, builder of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.may 17,16-ipoloitics
Justin Trudeau promises ‘full protection’ with transgender rights bill — Liberals caught short on key bill; Speaker casts rare tie-breaking vote — NDP will vote against Liberals’ electoral reform committee motion: Mulcair — Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan grilled by MPs in special session tonight— ‘Extreme fire behaviour’ forces thousands from Fort McMurray camps — Will Canada violate international conventions if it legalizes pot? Bill Blair doesn’t think so — Saudi Arabia suspends cultural festival in Ottawa amid outcry over arms deal — Has Bernie Sanders become this election’s Ralph Nader? — Trump making friends across the pond — And finally, a real handful-Good Tuesday morning to you.As a battle over bathrooms is waged in some parts of the United States, here at home, there’s little sign of a similar kind of pottygate. In contrast, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is set to unveil legislation to protect transgendered Canadians. “I am proud to announce that tomorrow, on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we will be tabling a bill in the House of Commons to ensure the full protection of transgender people,” he said. It’s been a long time coming, but the government is hoping the bill will lead by example.Back in school, no good ever came from skipping class. This week’s lesson? Not much good comes from skipping House either. Yesterday for the Liberals, a pop procedural test meant winning a vote by the skin of their teeth. The Conservatives and NDP joined forces to force a vote while too many Liberals were away from the House, leaving Speaker Geoff Regan cast the tie-breaking vote on a 139-139 count — for just the 11th time in Canadian history. Our Elizabeth Thompson has that story.As for the Liberals’ electoral reform committee motion, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair says he’s voting against that as well. NDP democratic reform critic Nathan Cullen hasn’t said he’ll voted against it, but has called for the Liberals to “commit to true cross-party collaboration, and give all parties a real seat at the table.”Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan faced a grilling last night before a special session of Parliament. He told the committee of the whole that his government has no plan to shut down any military bases and insisted that opposition accusations his government has cut $3.7 billion in defence spending from DND “couldn’t be further from the truth.” CBC News has more.
More transgender bathrooms pop up in Winnipeg-[CBC]-May 16, 2016-YAHOONEWS
It seems many Winnipeg establishments are ahead of the curve for respecting the rights of LGBT people — at least when it comes to using the loo.On Tuesday the federal Liberals are expected to propose legislation that will give legal and human rights protection to transgender people, following through on a pledge made during the election campaign.Already though, a handful of establishments in Winnipeg offer a gender-neutral bathroom option for transgender people.The University of Winnipeg was one of the first places in Winnipeg to offer gender-neutral washrooms but in 2016 it's hardly unique.Newly-opened Oh Doughnuts on Broadway in Winnipeg offers one as does the Tallest Poppy on Sherbrook Street, The Good Will on Portage Avenue, the University of Manitoba and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights."I think it's important that everybody feels safe and welcome," said Amanda Kinden, owner of Oh Doughnuts.Kinden said the decision to offer bathrooms for people who may not feel comfortable in conventional male or female washrooms was an easy decision."We are all human. We're different. We should embrace the differences we have and allow people to feel comfortable about them," Kinden said.Winnipegger Theo DeSilva was born a girl and recently transitioned to a man. He said he's encountered verbal abuse using washrooms in the past."You don't belong in here, you're not a male, you're in the wrong washroom," are some of the insults men have hurled at DeSilva just for using the bathroom, he said."Like no, I'm here to pee. I'm not going to be looking into your stall. We're not here to do anything else but do our business and leave. That's what washrooms are for," he said.Transgender woman Trish McNorgan said she's had no issues finding safe washroom spaces in Winnipeg but she worries about a potential backlash to the trend.In the United States, South Carolina recently passed a law restricting the use of public restrooms by transgender people.McNorgan worries about what the U.S. Attorney General called "state-sponsored discrimination" could spread here, despite the Liberals's efforts."Were such a much more tolerant society than those pockets of those states where there is difficulty it's a concern that it could be exported here," said McNorgan.Talia Syrie, co-owner of Tallest Poppy, said some customers have raised questions about the restaurant's washroom."People are confused by it they don't understand. But when we explain it to them they are generally fine with it, some people are really, really happy about it," she said.
Transgender Edmontonian travels to Ottawa for 'historic event'-[CBC]-May 17, 2016-YAHOONEWS
A transgender woman from Edmonton plans to be in the House of Commons on Tuesday to mark what she calls an "indescribable" day for Canada.Marni Panas wants to witness for herself the tabling of legislation expected to give legal and human rights protections to transgender people."We've had people struggling for years and years and years to get to this point," said Panas, a well-known advocate for LGBTQ issues in Alberta.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised the legislation during the federal election campaign last fall, after similar bills were passed in the House of Commons twice, then defeated in the Senate.Last week, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould told the House of Commons "legislation will be coming forward very shortly."Panas said while the Charter already protects equal rights, new legislation is needed to expand those protections to include gender identity."Many people will want to send a lot of myths about transgender people, and somehow connect us to predators or something absolutely ridiculous," said Panas.On Saturday at the Alberta legislature, Panas faced up to people opposed to a provincial government bill to allow gay-straight alliances in schools.She helped organize a demonstration supporting transgender rights, then later clashed with another group holding their own rally against Bill 10.The Trans Equality Society of Alberta, a group that fights for transgender Albertans, said new federal legislation could make a big difference for many people.The group said gender diverse Canadians still face challenges accessing some federal services."Amending the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to include gender identity are important steps towards trans Canadians having the opportunity to have the promise of equality fulfilled," said Jan Buterman, president of TESA, who also plans to be in the House of Commons on Tuesday.Panas said after all the hard work by so many people, it's an honour to see their effort come to fruition."We are moving forward as a society and there's no going back," she said.May 17 is a significant day for LGBTQ people around the world. It's commemorated annually as the day the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1990.
