When the pick-a-gender push meets anti-discrimination law, the results aren’t pretty

Transwoman Jessica Yaniv, formerly Jonathan Yaniv.

Victoria’s Labor government, media statement, June 18:

Trans and gender diverse Victorians wanting to alter the sex recorded on their birth certificate will no longer need to undergo gender affirmation surgery under reforms from the Andrews Labor government … The changes will allow applicants to self-nominate the sex listed in their birth registration as male, female, or any other gender diverse or non-binary descriptor of their own choice … Currently, trans and gender diverse Victorians are forced to “out” themselves whenever a birth certificate is requested, which can cause embarrassment and raise privacy, safety and discrimination concerns.

Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy, June 18:

Everyone deserves to live their life as they choose, and that includes having a birth certificate that reflects their true identity.

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission site:

… it is against the law to discriminate against you because of your sexual orientation, gender identity or lawful sexual activity, or what people assume these to be … Discrimination is against the law when it occurs in an area of public life such as clubs, schools and shops, or (at work) …

The Post Millennial website, July 18:

A mother and business owner was forced to end her Brazilian waxing business after being taken to the Human Rights Tribunal (in British Columbia, Canada) for refusing to wax a transgender woman’s male genitalia. Marcia Da Silva, who is an immigrant from Brazil, operated the business out of her home where her small children also live … Jessica Yaniv, who was formerly known as Jonathan Yaniv, has taken fifteen other (British Columbia) women to the tribunal for refusing to wax her male genitalia citing discrimination based on gender identity and is seeking financial compensation.

Jessica Yaniv, Twitter, July 19:

This is not about waxing. This is about businesses and individuals using their religion and culture to refuse service to protected groups because they don’t agree with it or the person and use that to illegally discriminate …

Canadian feminist writer Meghan Murphy.

Feminist Current website, Meghan Murphy, July 18:

There are very good reasons why women do not wish to be alone with strange, naked men. And most sane people understand that a woman should not be forced to touch a man’s genitals against her will. But when there is such a thing, as the trans activist movement claims, as “a female penis”, things that are very straightforward and obvious are suddenly indefensible. Suddenly, women’s right to say “no”, to have boundaries, to protect themselves and their spaces, to understand that a penis belongs to a male, not a female, cannot be defended … this (gender identity) movement, supported by “progressive” politicians, enabled by the media, and shoved down our throats, under threat, by supposedly left-wing activists, is undoing the work feminists have done over decades to protect women.

Ricky Gervais.

Ricky Gervais, Twitter, July 21:

It is a woman’s right to say “I don’t wax testicles. On a man or a woman”. End of discussion. No sexism. No homophobia. No transphobia.

Jarvis Dupont, Twitter, July 21:

I am appalled but not surprised to see @rickygervais attacking a stunning and brave transwoman on here, simply because she’s taken a group of immigrant women to court for refusing to wax her balls. His intolerance of progressive feminism is off the charts.