The Trans Lobby Group was founded in 2001 with a mission to educate the public and help shape the political process with regards to the needs of trans people, with a focus on health care and human rights. It was formerly a committee of the Rainbow Health Network, which in turn was a reference committee of the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights Ontario (CLGRO). We acknowledge and honour their influence on our development of liberation movement theory and practice as contrasted with rights theory and practice.
On May 14, 2008, the Ontario Minister of Health and Long Term Care announced the restoration of funding for sex reassignment surgery (SRS). This was the culmination of a lengthy campaign by the Trans Lobby Group to relist this medically necessary procedure. Since then, the Trans Lobby Group, in its capacity as a member of the SRS & Trans Health Policy Working Group, has advised the Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care on the health care needs of trans people.
The Trans Lobby Group has also campaigned for explicit human rights protection in Ontario where Toby's Act, an amendment to the Ontario Human Rights Code to include 'gender identity', has been introduced three times in the Ontario Legislature.
Bill C-389, an amendment to the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code to include 'gender identity and expression', passed its third reading in Parliament on February 10, 2011. Unfortunately the bill died in Senate when the 2011 federal election was called.
The Trans Lobby Group is a non-partisan group with over 40 members including trans people, allies and supporters. A smaller steering committee of trans people meets regularly to develop strategy and plan political actions pursuant to our goals.
The Trans Lobby Group was Pride Toronto's 2011 Honoured Dyke March Group.
