The Rainbow Health Network and the Trans Health Lobby Group condemn the discriminatory decision by the Alberta government to de-list gender reassignment surgery (GRS) in its April 7 budget. We offer our support to impacted communities in their struggle for respect, dignity, and basic access to health care.
The decision to cut funding of this internationally recognized, medically necessary, procedure indicates a disregard for transsexual and transgender persons and a lack of understanding on the importance of this procedure for this population. The failure of the Alberta government to consult with medical authorities and trans community members further indicates a negative bias towards transsexual and transgender persons. Even if funding were maintained trans people would lag behind other disadvantaged groups in their everyday lives both in health care access and in human rights protection.
In 2000, the Ontario Human Rights Commission noted: “There are, arguably, few groups in society today who are as disadvantaged and disenfranchised as the transgendered community.” Trans people often experience "transphobia,” a form of discrimination directed against them based upon fear, ignorance and hatred. An example of this is "trans bashing" and involves physical and/or sexual violence directed against trans people. In 1999, trans activists in San Francisco created the first Trans Day of Remembrance (www.rememberingourdead.org) to commemorate the lives of trans persons who were brutally murdered as a result of transphobia. Today, this event is recognized internationally, including events in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge, on Nov. 20.
In Ontario, the minister of health restored funding for GRS on May 14, 2008 following a lengthy campaign by the Trans Health Lobby Group and the Rainbow Health Network to relist this medically necessary procedure. Funding was cut on Oct. 1, 1998 without consultation with medical professionals or the trans community. In British Columbia, GRS was insured until July 1988, when it was delisted. On June 30, 1993 this decision was repealed because GRS was considered a medically necessary service.
—Susan Gapka, chair, Trans Health Lobby Group, Committee of Rainbow Health Network, Toronto