‘Outdated’: BC to amend laws, removing gendered & binary language
British Columbia will be the first Canadian province to change provincial laws to remove outdated gendered and binary language, which will, according to officials, better reflect its diversity as well as improve access to programs and services.
Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, Brenda Bailey, introduced the new legislation to “correct outdated language” by amending more than 2,300 instances of gendered and binary terms from 21 ministries across 210 provincial statutes.
“Words have a powerful effect, whether written or spoken, and all British Columbians deserve to see themselves reflected in BC’s programs and services,” said Bailey.
“We know that outdated language across government can exclude thousands of people. That’s why we’re taking action to replace these words with diversity, equity and inclusion at the top of our minds.”
The Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2023, will — when approved — group together gendered and binary language changes “as a streamlined way” for government to correct and repeal the language.
Terms such as “he/she” or “sister/brother” have been axed in exchange for “gender-neutral alternatives,” as have terms such as “chairmen” and “workmen.”
“Trans and non-binary people, particularly youth, can be erased by laws that use only he and she,” said Adrienne Smith, litigation director at the Catherine White Holman Wellness Society trans legal clinic.
“This change signals to those people that they are important, and that they are included and protected by the law.”
The province already amended more than 1,400 instances of “outdated gendered and binary language” from provincial regulations.
The move was announced on International Women’s Day, and despite officials reiterating it helps “all British Columbians see themselves in legislation,” many biological women express they feel — to use the province’s word — “erased.”
Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were respectively applauded and condemned on International Women’s Day for stating that “trans women are women.”
“And with a disturbing rise in anti-transgender hate here in Canada and around the world recently, I want to be very clear about one more thing: trans women are women. We will always stand up to this hate — whenever and wherever it occurs,” said Trudeau.
In lockstep with the prime minister, Eby said, “Rather than amplify the hateful voices targeting trans people in the replies to previous posts, let me just say, on International Women’s Day, and every other day of the year, trans women are women.”
Reid Small
Reid Small
Reporter (BC)
Reid Small is a BC Reporter for the Western Standard and West Coast Standard based in the Vancouver Bureau. He has worked as a freelance photojournalist and in independent media.
* Author email
British Columbia will be the first Canadian province to change provincial laws to remove outdated gendered and binary language, which will, according to officials, better reflect its diversity as well as improve access to programs and services.
Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, Brenda Bailey, introduced the new legislation to “correct outdated language” by amending more than 2,300 instances of gendered and binary terms from 21 ministries across 210 provincial statutes.
“Words have a powerful effect, whether written or spoken, and all British Columbians deserve to see themselves reflected in BC’s programs and services,” said Bailey.
“We know that outdated language across government can exclude thousands of people. That’s why we’re taking action to replace these words with diversity, equity and inclusion at the top of our minds.”
The Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2023, will — when approved — group together gendered and binary language changes “as a streamlined way” for government to correct and repeal the language.
Terms such as “he/she” or “sister/brother” have been axed in exchange for “gender-neutral alternatives,” as have terms such as “chairmen” and “workmen.”
“Trans and non-binary people, particularly youth, can be erased by laws that use only he and she,” said Adrienne Smith, litigation director at the Catherine White Holman Wellness Society trans legal clinic.
“This change signals to those people that they are important, and that they are included and protected by the law.”
The province already amended more than 1,400 instances of “outdated gendered and binary language” from provincial regulations.
The move was announced on International Women’s Day, and despite officials reiterating it helps “all British Columbians see themselves in legislation,” many biological women express they feel — to use the province’s word — “erased.”
Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were respectively applauded and condemned on International Women’s Day for stating that “trans women are women.”
“And with a disturbing rise in anti-transgender hate here in Canada and around the world recently, I want to be very clear about one more thing: trans women are women. We will always stand up to this hate — whenever and wherever it occurs,” said Trudeau.
In lockstep with the prime minister, Eby said, “Rather than amplify the hateful voices targeting trans people in the replies to previous posts, let me just say, on International Women’s Day, and every other day of the year, trans women are women.”
Reid Small
Reid Small
Reporter (BC)
Reid Small is a BC Reporter for the Western Standard and West Coast Standard based in the Vancouver Bureau. He has worked as a freelance photojournalist and in independent media.
* Author email
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