14 Wins For Transgender Canadians In 2015

Let's take a moment to remember the good.

1. Trans girls were welcomed with open arms into Girl Guides of Canada.

Girl Guides of Canada

Although they were already permitted to join on a case-by-case basis, in 2015 Girl Guides of Canada released guidelines to ensure trans girls and volunteers could feel at home in the organization.

2. You no longer need to get surgery to change your legal sex in Quebec.

Courtesy of Gabrielle Bouchard

As advocate Gabrielle Bouchard put it, the move is "a huge recognition that gender is very, very diverse."

3. Alberta added human rights protections for trans people.

Jason Franson / The Canadian Press

“No Albertan should be denied basic services for being true to themselves,” Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said at the announcement, according to CBC.

4. And raised a trans pride flag at the legislature in Edmonton for the first time on the Trans Day of Remembrance.

vinesh pratap @vineshpratap

History at the #ableg grounds today. The trans pride flag stands tall. @GlobalEdmonton #yeg

07:32 PM - 20 Nov 2015

5. Ontario released new guidelines for trans inmates, doing away with old policies that advocates say puts trans people in danger.

Kyle Kirkup @kylekirkup

Here's the summary of Ontario's new policy on the admission, classification & placement of trans inmates. #cdnpoli

06:02 PM - 26 Jan 2015

Before the change, trans inmates were typically placed based on whether or not they'd had surgery.

6. And B.C. followed suit!

Bianca Bailey Sawyer/Facebook

It started with Bianca Bailey Sawyer, a trans woman who was finally moved into a female facility, B.C. earlier this year. Now, the province has a policy that inmates will be housed based on their identity — not their anatomy.

7. Kael McKenzie was appointed as Canada's first out trans judge in Manitoba.

Jason Halstead / THE CANADIAN PRESS

McKenzie — who comes to the job with a CV that would make other lawyers weep — told the Globe and Mail his transition has given him the confidence and focus to be a better lawyer.

8. Ontario made it easier for those who want gender-affirming surgery to get it.

Dr. Eric Hoskins/Twitter

Although wait times for surgery is still an issue, Ontario has made it way easier for people to get a referral to get the process started.

9. Trans Canadians protested with #PlettPutMeHere.

facebook.com

After Canadian Senator Donald Plett pretty much gutted C279 — a bill that would have added federal protections based on gender identity — trans Canadians refused to back down.

Activist and artist Brae Carnes started #PlettPutMeHere, a tag used with bathroom selfies to show that having access to the appropriate bathroom does matter.

10. Benjamin Vandorpe launched JusticeTrans, an app with legal info for trans Canadians.

Courtesy of Benjamin Vandorpe

JusticeTrans

The rules that affect trans Canadians — like changing sex markers on passports or which provinces include gender identity in human rights protections — are all laid out in this handy app.

11. Ontario banned conversion therapy for LGBT youth.

Susan Gapka @SusanGapka

Celebrating passage of #Bill77 at the #OnPoli Legislature and taking a moment to enjoy this historic achievement.

08:07 PM - 04 Jun 2015

The bill also made sure that public health care would no longer pay for it, for anyone.

12. It was announced that a controversial gender and identity clinic for youth in Toronto will be closed.

CAMH/Facebook / Via Facebook: CentreforAddictionandMentalHealth

The Gender and Identity Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto has long been criticized for allegedly subjecting young patients to conversion therapy. As reported by Daily Xtra, there's also been stories of "awful, uncomfortable and damaging" treatment by the doctors.

In December, it was announced the head of the program is no longer with CAMH and the clinic will be phased out.

13. Then there were those viral stories that made us all smile. Like this Ottawa mom who surprised her trans daughter with the news that her legal name change came through.

Gabrielle Diana @gabrielledianaa

My legal name change came through finally and my mom surprised me

10:45 PM - 27 Sep 2015

14. And this Calgary tattoo artist who retouched his wife's tattoo of their trans son to better reflect who he is.

facebook.com

So here's to an even better 2016. 💙💗

Follow @BuzzFeedCanada