Many of us recognize, acknowledge and accept non-binary gender already. It is now time for the Government of Manitoba to recognize non-binary gender. The Manitoba Liberal Party believes that ALL Manitobans should be included when accessing government services. We believe that ALL Manitobans should be included on identification, official forms or other government documentation.
If you agree with us and would like to help initiate this change in our government then please download the petition at the bottom of this page and encourage your friends and family to sign it.
Please ensure that all 15 lines on the petition have complete signatures and that each address is correct ("no fixed address" is the acceptable address for those without one). More signatures may be collected on the back of the form.
When at least 15 signatures are gathered and the form is complete, mail it to:
Attn: Shandi Strong Manitoba Liberal Caucus Legislative Building 167 – 450 Broadway Winnipeg MB R3C 0V8
[Update: the period for collecting signatures has passed. We received even more support than we hoped for! Thank you to everyone who responded.]
The background to this petition is as follows:
Gender, sexuality, and gender identity are protected characteristics of human rights both federally and provincially in Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and soon will be in Saskatchewan, Yukon, and other places in Canada. These Governments have realized the need for this option on identification for the benefit of people who identify or who are identified by others as intersex, third gender, transgender, genderqueer or non-binary.
Identification and government documents should reflect gender neutrality to prevent issues that may arise from intentional bias on gender and mis-gendering. The people described above face anxiety and discrimination in many aspects of day to day life such as:A. interactions with health care professionals. B. interactions with persons of authority. C. accessing government services. D. applying for employment.
Gender neutrality describes the idea that policies, language and the other social institutions should avoid distinguishing roles according to people's sex or gender, in order to avoid discrimination arising from impressions that there are social roles for which one gender is more suited that other.
Many newcomers to Canada may already have gender neutral ID. Many Indigenous persons are coming to identify as Two-Spirit as the effects of colonization are lessening, and this needs to be addressed in the process of reconciliation.
Being forced to accept an assigned gender affects children and newborns as they grow and become part of society. There are many psychological benefits for transgender and non-binary people to be allowed to develop without the constraints put upon them by having their gender assigned based on purely physical attributes.
The consideration to have a third option like “X” or “other” on documents was on the previous Provincial Government’s radar for several years but the current Provincial Government has not taken steps to implement it.
The City of Winnipeg is actively making its forms reflective of gender neutrality in respect to all persons who work for or come into contact with that government.
The Federal Government now issues passports and is educating personnel about the correct language and references for non-binary persons.
An “other” option existed on enumeration forms for Elections Manitoba in 2016, was easily accepted, and provided a framework to provide accurate statistics of those who do not identify under the current binary system.
The foresight along with training and making changes on required forms acknowledges and accepts persons who fall outside the binary gender so that governments and people can more effectively interact with one another, and reduce the anxieties of everyone involved.
We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:
To urge the Provincial Government to immediately begin implementation of plans to convert systems and forms to be more inclusive of Two-Spirit and other non-binary individuals, whether it be to include a third gender option, or no requirement for gender on forms, unless medically or statistically necessary, including health cards, and birth certificates.
To urge the Provincial Government to immediately instruct the Manitoba Public Insurance corporation to offer a third gender option, or no gender requirement for licenses or any other form of provincial identification.
To urge the Provincial Government to instruct Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living to offer the option of Manitoba Health Cards with no gender in order to reduce the anxieties of transgender and non-binary persons accessing the healthcare system as a first step.
To consider revisiting legislation that may need updating to meet the needs of its citizens in this regard.