Transphobia In Canada Essay

A vulnerable population plagued with discrimination and stigma are transgender (trans) Canadians, a sub-population of LGBT individuals. 5% of Canadians identify as LGBT (Carlson, 2012). The term transgender encompasses individuals of diverse gender identities that deviate from the conventional gender norms (Ontario Human Rights Commission, 2014). A health inequity that negatively affects trans youth is the decreased self-perceived safety due to transphobia related to gendered public washrooms. Transphobia, best described as: aversive behaviors directed towards trans individuals and communities at large that can manifest in a variety of forms such as: prejudice, harassment, and violence (Ontario Human Rights Commission, 2014). This inequity

This finding parallels Taylor and Peter (2011), as 75% of study participants felt that school washrooms were unsafe due to the high exposure of discrimination, bullying, and lack of surveillance by teachers. Given that trans youth feel unsafe, it is no wonder that these individuals are at increased risk of poor mental health outcomes (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014; Krusack, 2010). The Canadian Mental Health Association (2014) found that 77% of trans participants in a province wide survey disclosed suicidal thoughts, while 45% of participants disclosed a previous suicide

In the context of this policy, the CHN would have a role in advocating for this policy at both upstream and downstream levels. The upstream effects largely come from the advocacy directed towards politicians and school boards for increased safety and inclusivity for trans youth and other diverse populations. The downstream effects largely come from the one-on-one aspects of dealing with trans youth and their family to capacity build at an interpersonal level and within the