Saskatoon man says the federal government is 'walking the walk' with new transgender bill

A Saskatoon man says the federal government is "walking the walk" with their newly introduced legislation that will ensure nationwide legal and human rights protections to transgender people. 

Jack Saddleback identifies as a Cree two-spirited transgender gay man. 

"I'm personally ecstatic about the announcement," he said. 

"It just goes to show that our government, who is sitting in house right now, is stepping up to the plate and actually walking the walk," said Saddleback, former president of the University of Saskatchewan Students' Union (USSU). 

Full details have yet to be announced, but the bill will protect transgender people from discrimination and from hate speech. 

It does so by adding gender identity to the list of protected characteristics in the Human Rights Act as well as a characteristic federally protected from hate speech under the Criminal Code. 

We're all human beings, and we all deserve the same respect for our own uniqueness.- Jack Saddleback

Saddleback said including gender identity in the Criminal Code is important because it is "explicitly stating that gender identity is not something that can be discriminated against."

Sharing experiences

Recently, Saddleback told personal stories of life as a transgender man with film director Courtney Montour and the crew for a local documentary titled Sex Spirit Strength.

The film explores Saddleback's life and also follows Michael Keshane, a Saulteaux man living with HIV. 

The documentary has been nominated for the 2016 Yorkton Film Festival. In reflection, he personally connects to the new legislation because he has faced the harm the bill is meant to combat.  

"There's been a lot of discrimination I've had to face, not only within our education systems of constantly having to go by the wrong gender, if I may say, but also within our society."

Hesaid tasks like using the bathroom and navigating airport lines are anything but routine for transgender people.

"Being mis-gendered, it can be a traumatic experience for many transgender individuals."

Saddleback said he has travelled quite often and has been questioned when presenting his identification card. The card still lists his biological sex as female. That has raised eyebrows and questions.

"There has been a few times where you kind of get the side eye," he said, noting that despite his discomfort he views those times as "teachable moments."

Those seemingly small, but very real, barriers are what transgender people are constantly up against, Saddleback said. 

The new legislation will provide transgender people protection in the workforce, something he said is needed. 

"For myself, I have had to leave a job because of my own safety," he said.

"I had a person in a position of power say some very discriminatory things and get a little violent towards me, so I took it upon myself and said 'this job is not worth my own personal safety nor my emotional well being.'"

South of the border

While Canada is pushing a bill meant to protect the transgender population, parts of the U.S. are generating controversy for limiting access. North Carolina's transgender "bathroom bill" has caused considerable controversy. The bill restricts transgender access to restrooms in buildings managed by the government. Saddleback said that situation further marginalizes transgender people. 

The discussion puts up a barrier to one of the most "basic needs that anyone in the world does," he said. 

"I'm quite curious to see how this is going to play out over the next few months, but for us here in Canada I am very proud to hear that our government is standing up and saying we need to protect our most marginalized."

Saddleback said he thinks Canada has come a long way and added that since he's come out a lot of work has been done through education, awareness and a deeper understanding.

"We're all human beings, and we all deserve the same respect for our own uniqueness."