‘We actually deserve these rights’
On Tuesday, Justice Minister Judy Wilson-Raybould introduced a bill that would update the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code to prevent discrimination and hate crimes based on gender identity and gender expression. At her side was Charlie Low
Q What was it like to be on Parliament Hill Tuesday?
A I felt ecstatic. I like the prime minister and the minister of justice for helping us get this bill through. It was really nice being in the foyer of the House of Commons. I got a scales of justice badge yesterday from the minister of justice.
Q What did you tell your classmates at school?
A I presented a speech about being trans. People heard about my TV and radio interviews. I explained to them why we were doing it. I was actually pretty popular in my class.
Q How would you explain this bill to other 10-year-olds?
A It’s meant to protect transgender, gender fluid, gender queer, intersex people. It protects them from hate propaganda, hate crimes, assaults, rape, anything that is related to discrimination because of their gender or anything related to bullying or hurt because of their gender. That’s why I feel safer. Some people might not do it because they would be scared of getting caught.
Q How did your classmates react?
A I had this friend. She showed me her rating for my speech and she wrote down 10 out of 10 and she said, ‘very inspiring.’ A lot of people in my class had a lot of questions and so I answered all of them because I wanted them to know what it feels like to be trans or gender fluid.
Q That raises an important point about terminology. Do I describe you as transgender or gender fluid? A Transgender, because I’m a girl now.
Q What was life like when you were younger?
A When I was three, I said to my mom I was a girl. She said, ‘Be who you want to be. I will be perfectly fine with you being a girl.’ Anywhere outside of home it wasn’t as accepting. There was this one boy who tried to target me in kindergarten. He would say stuff that was not true, but he didn’t know better. He said, ‘Pink is for girls, not for boys’ … ‘Nail polish is for girls, not for boys’ … ‘Why are you wearing that? It’s so girlie.’ And then he started shoving me, grabbing my hair. That’s why we moved to a more accepting area. We were in a rural area beforehand, but in Grade 1, I moved to Ottawa and went into a gifted program and did much better there.
Q What would you say to that boy today?
A His bullying was bad, but I know he didn’t know any better at the time. I would try to inform him on why I was like that when I was younger, so that he can actually understand and so that he can feel like I’m not a weirdo.
Q What would you say to critics of the bill?
A We actually deserve those rights. We’re not monsters. They shouldn’t be afraid of us. We’re not doing anything to them. Like the bully, I would try to teach them, tell them why we’re just normal people. We’ve gotten over (discrimination of) aboriginal people and black people. We’re all the same. We all fall under the same category: human.
Q When you’re not being an advocate, what do you enjoy doing?
A I like to read books and make music. I really like nature and like to try to preserve nature and enjoy it for what it is. I’m also interested in vehicles, especially planes and cars. I like building models and seeing how they actually work.
Q What are your future goals?
A I think I might be a member of Parliament. That would probably be the best situation. If not, then I’d probably try to be an advocate. Just a few years ago, I thought I could never actually improve my situation. I felt like I was powerless. I want to make a better future. I will probably continue to be a trans activist until all of what we deserve, all the privileges we deserve, have actually been (adopted).
This interview was edited and condensed.