OTTAWA, Ontario, March 28, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The controversial ‘transgender’ bill died on the order paper after the Canadian Parliament was dissolved over the weekend with the election call for May 2nd.
Bill C-389, which sought to add “gender identity” and “gender expression” to the Canada Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code’s hate crimes section, had moved to the Senate after it passed in the House of Commons February 9th in a vote of 143-135.
The bill, which was opposed by numerous religious and pro-family organizations, was dubbed a ‘bathroom bill’ because it would allow men who say they are women to use women’s washrooms. Opponents said this could lead to an increase in bathroom attacks against women and children.
The bill’s future could be in doubt as its sponsor, NDP member Bill Siksay, who made two previous attempts to get it passed in 2006 and 2007, has opted not to run in the current election. Though numerous senators supported the bill, Siksay had failed to find a senator to bring it before the upper chamber.
At the same time, the bill is likely to come up again, with numerous other members who could be convinced to take up the torch.
Pro-family leaders say this highlights the need to elect pro-life and pro-family Members of Parliament in the May 2nd election.
The election also put a stop to a bill seeking to remove sodomy from the Criminal Code, which currently prohibits the act except in private between consenting adults over 18 years of age. Bill C-628, proposed by the NDP’s Joe Comartin, had first reading on February 11.
Those opposed to the bill point out that sodomy carries serious health risks, associated with major life-threatening health problems including anal cancer and other bowel disorders. It’s also much easier to transmit STDs, including HIV.
Regarding the transgender bill, pro-family leaders have pointed out that organizations like the American College of Pediatricians treat gender confusion as a mental illness, meaning if it were passed Canadian law would recognize a mental disorder as normal. This could, they said, make it even harder for children and others who struggle with gender identity disorder (GID) to obtain treatment.
They have also warned that the bill would have unpredictable and far-reaching consequences in civil society. Under the legislation the federal government would be forced to hire gender-confused individuals, which could cause problems for the military and the RCMP. The government could also be required to pay for sex-change operations, and businesses could be obliged to hire transsexuals or install washrooms to accommodate cross-dressers.