New Wave of Nerd

Hopefully you have all been being good little activists and are in the know about Bill C-389. This is the bill that is fighting to include gender identity and gender expression into the Canadian Human Charter of Rights. This bill has passed two votes, and is going to the third vote. If it passes that third vote it goes to the Senate where it will be voted on by the Governor General.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves yet. The bill needs to pass the third vote, which is set to happen on December 7th. So far the bill has passed without any problems or much opposition. This has created many counter movements to flare up from groups who look to protect the “normalcy of society.”

We need our voices to be heard. It is simple to do too. All you need to do is sign this petition supporting the bill. Your support will be sent to your M.P., who is supposed to represent the people in their riding. See? Easy. Here is the link, it only takes a minute or two - Support Bill C-389

Note that I said ’supposed to represent the people in their riding’, my M.P. is not supporting the bill. See the exchange I had with him below.

Sent: November 17, 2010 12:11 PM
To: Vellacott, Maurice – M.P.
Subject: Support Bill C-389: legal protection for transexual and transgendered Canadians

I am writing to you as a constituent to ask that you support Bill C-389, when it comes up for Third Reading in December 2010 and that you ask your caucus to do the same.

Bill C-389 amends the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination against transsexual and transgender Canadians and changes the Criminal Code to make violence against transsexual and transgendered people a hate crime.

Trans people are often victims of discrimination, harassment and violence. They are all too often denied employment, housing, access to health care and face difficulties obtaining identification.

Trans people are workers, citizens and beloved members of our families. They deserve respect, equality and protection from discrimination and violence.

I look forward to a personal response to my request.

Yours truly,

Signed by:
Avery ____
Saskatoon, SK

As a young, 21 year old, female to male transexual I am told by Canada that I am not ‘person’ enough to be deserving of basic protection and rights. Intolerance and discriminatory laws affect me on a daily basis because of my gender identity and expression.

I am put in danger every time I am asked to show identification because it still retains the gender marker F(emale), when I am male in appearance.
I can be denied the education I need to reach my goal of being a Human Rights Lawyer without a reason other than the fact that I am transgendered.
I have been spit on, yelled at, and pushed because I am transgendered. I do not stand alone; a community of transgendered people stand beside me, the majority of whom have experienced hate and discrimination as well. But we stand without the protection of our country, without the recognition of the validity of our identities, and without the respect and equality we deserve.

Please, support Bill C-389. Do not make us stand alone any longer against the injustices happening in our beautiful country of Canada.

Respectfully Yours,
Avery E. F. ___

November 22, 2010 – Response from M.P. :
I will not be supporting Bill C-389.

Regards,
Maurice Vellacott

November 23, 2010 – My Response:
As your constituent you have a certain amount of accountability that you owe me. Could you explain why you will not be supporting Bill C-389?

I am still waiting for an explanation as to why he will not be supporting the bill. I bet it will read something like this:

RED ALERT: ‘Scary’ Canadian Transgender Anti-Discrimination Bill Sails Thru Committee

Here is a little bit from it, “According to Alissa Golob, head of Campaign Life Coalition Youth, the move to recognize gender-confusion as a normal lifestyle choice is ‘not surprising” since we‟ve already done so with homosexuality. “It‟s just another attempt to normalize immorality,” she said. “What‟s next? Polygamy? Pedophilia?’”

That article was taken off his official website, ‘RED ALERT’ and all. I can’t believe this man is a part of the Canadian goverment. His utter lack of compassion and respect for humanity is disgusting. I wonder if he will actually stand behind his beliefs and call me “immoral” and a “pedophile” in writing personally to me. Or if he will just hide behind the words of others and let them speak for him.

Please, do your part. The petition literally takes 2 minutes to fill out, you just have to fill in your name and your postal code. This bill goes to vote on December 7th, so you only have a little bit of time left to write your M.P. and let them know you support the bill.

I will keep you updated on this situation. This is our time to act, we can make a difference, make your voice heard.

- Avery Eros Finley

I have hit my first wall in my transition. It looks as though I won’t be allowed to change my gender markers from female to male on my IDs. This makes traveling outside the country a safety issue for me. It also makes already awkward ID checks at the liquor store even more awkward.

Picture this:
Setting -- 3pm on a Thursday afternoon, almost empty liquor board store.
Avery wanders the isles with a lazy saunter that exclaims having nothing but free time. Dressed in a cardigan, buttons done up, and a pair of slacks. I look well kept, even fashionable. But what no one can see are the long johns, saggy wool socks and baggy flannel shirt hidden under the appropriate casual day clothes I put on as a mask.
First, I wander over to the red wine section. It is classy, acceptable even to buy a bottle of wine on a weekday afternoon. It could easily be for a dinner party tonight.
Then over to the cider section, skip over the 2L plastic bottles of cider. Psh, please -- I have some class and digni- “OH! Sale on king size cans! I wonder if they have coupons…”
Final stop, over to my main man. The man who steers me through the tough times, who is never without a guiding hand -- Captain Morgan. I missed you. You feel so right in my hands. I miss your warmth. I can’t resist anymore, take me home!
Check-out counter --
Clerk -- “Wow, you must be having a party!”
Avery -- *Tucking the collar of his plaid shirt back under the cardigan.*
“Hmm? Oh, yeah… party.  Of course, you know, the usual just a few good friends getting together for a good time.”
That wasn’t a lie. I am going to watch Superman. Lois Lane and Clark Kent are friends.. that counts as a party. Right?
Clerk -- “I hope you remember the Egg Nog for all that rum! It is that time of year.”
Egg Nog? Barf. Why would I go and ruin perfectly good rum by adding that crap to it? If that makes me the fucking Grinch then point me in the direction of a little village to pillage.
Avery -- “You bet. Egg Nog. Yum, Yum.” *Small fist pump*
Clerk -- *Looking skeptical, glancing from pile of alcohol to the corner of my flannel shirt and long johns sticking out*
“Can I see some ID sir?”
Mayday! Mayday!
Avery -- “Absolutely.” *Pulls out ID and hands it over*
Clerk -- “That is a unique name. Eros? Hmm. Do you have another piece of ID?”
Ah shit, about to get even more awkward. Why do I look like a 15 year old boy?! I shouldn’t have shaved my neck beard it adds at least 2 years to my age.
*Hands over health card that contains a clear F underneath the name*
Clerk -- “Eros, again. Okay thanks, Mr. Ziege-”
*sees the F, falters in speech, jerks head up, mouth gaping*
“I mean, Ms. Zieger… Or.. Mister.. I -- uh -- Your total is…”
End Scene

Okay, maybe that won’t ever happen. Not the part about me wandering a liquor store on a weekday afternoon, that could happen. I am one failed final away from that being my life. The clerk asking for a second piece of ID is pretty far fetched. I may look 15 and have a weird name, but it hasn’t caused me to be asked for a second piece of ID yet. So yes, I am letting my imagination run away with me but it could happen.

Anyways, here is the video.

Sorry about the gap between when I recorded this video and when I am posting it. I am kinda like that crappy watch you wear everyday even though it only works half the time. Maybe out of habit or because it is cute you keep it around. You have grown to be very fond of it. It makes you happier than it should when it does the job it is supposed to do, but even when it doesn’t you can’t be too mad at it.
Yup, that is me. An unreliable watch that is too cute to throw away.

My 1 year anniversary on T is coming up very quickly and I really want to put together a special video for you guys. I hope I can get it together in time. I’ll try my best. If I can’t get that special video together in time I will put up a regular video no matter what.

Thank you guys so much for checking in.

- Avery Eros Finley