canaDUH...
Posted on 02/01/2014 10:41:50 PM PST by Morgana
TORONTO, January 31, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The head of Ontario’s human rights commission is defending the right of ‘transgendered’ men to use women’s changing rooms in response to a woman’s complaint that she was ogled by a naked man who was sexually aroused at her local Y.
In a letter to a Toronto Star ethics columnist earlier this month the woman complained that the man, who claimed to be transgendered, asked her uncomfortable questions, including if she "came here often."
"I understand that gender is no longer judged solely by genitalia," the woman wrote to the Star, "but does a brief contact with the duty manager mean that men not yet committed to gender reassignment are free to disrobe anywhere they choose?"
In a letter to the editor January 13th, OHRC Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall insisted “unwanted sexual behaviour is never acceptable,” but also charged that the woman’s complaint “advance[s] some common misinformation that has caused serious harm to the transgender community.”
Hall said there is no documented case of a heterosexual man gaining access to a women's changeroom by "posing as transgender," but charged rather that "a stereotype of connecting transgender people with wrongdoing and being sexual predators" has put "transgender persons more at risk than anyone else of being harassed, abused, assaulted, or even killed."
Hall also dismissed continued calls to the OHRC "to segrate (sic) transgender people into separate bathroom and changing spaces, for the good of the larger majority," as nothing more than a "practice based on fear and stereotypes.”
She said such proposals are “exactly opposite the vision of Ontario’s Human Rights Code, which is to build an Ontario based on inclusion, where everyone feels a part of and is able to contribute to the community."
"The Ontario Human Rights Code exists to benefit all Ontarians," Hall concluded, "including transgender people, who often have a daily battle to overcome the barriers that misunderstanding, fear and intolerance cause."
The Star's columnist Ken Gallinger suggested that the man's behaviour in the women's change room was not only disrespectful but probably illegal.
"I don’t know, obviously, whether the person you encountered was truly trans, or merely a poseur getting his kicks," Gallinger wrote.
"The physical evidence makes me suspect the latter," he stated.
"In any event, this person’s behaviour was unacceptable and, arguably, illegal. I urge you to report her (him?) to the management. People like this can’t be skulking around locker rooms, not because of gender issues, but because they have no respect for boundaries — and could be dangerous. Be very clear about the nature of your fears; you were the victim of an inappropriate sexual advance."
Christina Blizzard of the Sun News Network was more strident in her remarks on Hall's response to the woman's story, noting the hypocrisy the OHRC is displaying.
"We have women-only swim times at an aquatic centre in Regent Park in order to accommodate certain religious and cultural minorities for whom communal bathing is a no-no. And the OHRC supports that," Blizzard said in a "Straight Talk" video segment titled "Political correctness shouldn't trump common sense."
"It begs the question: If a transgendered woman with a penis busts a female Islamic swim class in downtown Toronto, whose human rights take precedence?”
"It was a question I wanted to ask Hall," Blizzard said. "Sadly, though, she did not want to be interviewed for my column Tuesday. A call to her office elicited the response that Hall said everything she wanted to in her letter."
Contact info:
Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner Ontario Human Rights Commission 180 Dundas Street West, Suite 900 Toronto, Ontario M7A 2R9 Phone: (416) 326-9511 Toll Free: 1-800-387-9080 Email: info@ohrc.on.ca
Information on how and to whom to make a complaint about the OHRC regarding staff, policy or operational procedure, is available here.
I understand, it reminds me of that too. Often, in those situations, several men will block the restroom so the ladies can use it unhindered.
I was cracking wise about how we men are perfectly happy to have nude women in our fitting rooms, but I guess it wasn’t all that funny....
That girl just needs to understand that the dem is worse and lesser evil is what we need to WIN!!!
/s
Josie's pretty amazing, isn't she? Check out the other videos on her site. I haven't heard such clear thinking about the concepts of freedom and liberty in ages.
I’ll check her stuff out. Her IDEAS...God you people ;)
Kidding aside, It’s pretty basic stuff. I’d bet it seems either ‘extremist’ or ‘revolutionary’ to a lot of people simply because they haven’t actually sat and thought about any of it. Once upon a time it was pretty common to hold such ideas forefront in everyday life.
But then the Stupidbowl, Iphones and Sitcoms pushed them from the general consciousness. I think Russel Crowe, lib that he is, had it right in “Gladiator”.
“Are you (we collectively) not entertained”?
The first girl raped in the shower will be charged with a hate crime
True.
The editors really should have re-thought that first sentence.
That's one of the things about the most basic, fundamental truths. They also happen to be the most powerful ideas we humans hold.
As blighted and condemned as the landscape of collective consciousness seems today, I see a strong resurgence occurring in our people's recognition of those truths. More and more, the conversations among common folks seem to be turning toward the questions and answers that gave birth to this country.
There's a sea change occurring just below the surface of popular culture and current events that will soon overshadow them both. I believe we're only glimpsing the tip of that iceberg right now.
When you gotta go,you gotta go.
Talia Shire.
“I sure as heck don’t want my granddaughter exposed to this.”
The gym I’m a member of has solved this problem. There are no locker room. Only little cubby holes like we had in Kindergarten with cameras right on them. Trust me no one steals.
The bath rooms each have a toilet, shower, sink, and bench to change on. Each facility has about 6 to 8 of these depending of the size of the gym. If all are full at the same time you are allowed to change in one of the tanning booth room (if not occupied) as long as you make it quick.
canaDUH...
A friend of mine once spoke of attending a concert in Philly and a woman coming into the men’s room during intermission standing in line and then hiking up her skirt to use the men’s room urinal. Classy folks there in South Philly.
You know, if an naked aroused trans-whatever asked my wife or daughter anything in a dressing room you’re damn right I’d assault it.
I agree. People should stop supporting the nuts and hopefully the will go away. Normal folks should stay away from homo weddings etc.
“Normal folks should stay away from homo weddings etc.”
Most normal people don’t go looking for homo weddings to attend. What happens is they are against homosexuality until they find out their own kids/family members are. So they chose between their religious values and their family.
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