Harriette Cunningham and Tru Wilson
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Think
How can you help raise awareness of gender identity and expression at your school?
Do
Watch the National Film Board documentary Beauty, which explores the lives of five transgender children. Discover how they deal with bullies, share their identity with their parents, and navigate personal relationships.
Details
Date April 27, 2016
Materials - Photograph
Historical Context
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- This photograph of transgender youths Harriette Cunningham (she/her/hers) and Tru Wilson (she/her/hers) shows them standing in front of the British Columbia legislature in 2016, advocating for the province’s Bill 27, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, to include gender identity and expression. The Act was amended.
- Harriette Tru Wilson have both made significant changes within their communities in relation to gender identity and expression. They have helped to change school board policies around gender identity, as well as provincial guidelines related to gender identity on birth certificates.
- Harriette and Tru demonstrate that youth can make a real difference when it comes to supporting and expanding human rights.
This photograph shows Harriette Cunningham (she/her/hers) and Tru Wilson (she/her/hers) standing in front of the British Columbia legislature in 2016. The two young transgender activists were advocating for the protection of gender expression against discrimination in the province’s Bill 27, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act.
Both Harriette and Tru have worked for equal rights within their communities. Harriette raised awareness leading to the amendment of Bill 17 in 2014, allowing transgender British Columbians to change their gender on their birth certificates. Tru petitioned the Catholic School Board of Vancouver to recognize and respect a student’s gender identity.
Activists like Harriette and Tru reflect the power of young people to petition local communities and governments and advocate for their rights.
This photograph shows Harriette Cunningham (she/her/hers) and Tru Wilson (she/her/hers), two young transgender activists, standing in front of the British Columbia legislature in 2016. They were at the legislature in support of British Columbia’s Bill 27, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, aimed at incorporating protections for gender identity and expression in the Code’s provisions. The Bill passed. The amendment aligns with the Canadian Human Rights Act, which was also amended to include gender identity and expression as protected grounds.
Harriette and Tru are leaders within their communities, advocating equal rights for gender expression. In 2013, Harriette and her grandmother began petitioning local representatives to amend legislation requiring trans people to undergo reassignment surgery before being allowed to change their gender on birth certificates. The legislation passed in 2014 (Bill 17), and Harriette became one of the first British Columbians to receive a new birth certificate.
Tru and her family filed a human rights complaint in 2013 against the Independent Catholic School Board of Vancouver, after her former school refused her request to be treated as a girl. For example, the school refused her request to wear the girls’ school uniform, use the girls’ washroom, and be called by her chosen name. In response to the complaint, the Catholic School Board of Vancouver updated its policy, allowing families to request that a student’s specific gender request be accommodated.
The inspirational stories of Harriette and Tru make it clear that people of all ages can advocate for their rights.
- This photograph of transgender youths Harriette Cunningham (she/her/hers) and Tru Wilson (she/her/hers) shows them standing in front of the British Columbia legislature in 2016, advocating for the province’s Bill 27, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, to include gender identity and expression. The Act was amended.
- Harriette Tru Wilson have both made significant changes within their communities in relation to gender identity and expression. They have helped to change school board policies around gender identity, as well as provincial guidelines related to gender identity on birth certificates.
- Harriette and Tru demonstrate that youth can make a real difference when it comes to supporting and expanding human rights.
This photograph shows Harriette Cunningham (she/her/hers) and Tru Wilson (she/her/hers) standing in front of the British Columbia legislature in 2016. The two young transgender activists were advocating for the protection of gender expression against discrimination in the province’s Bill 27, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act.
Both Harriette and Tru have worked for equal rights within their communities. Harriette raised awareness leading to the amendment of Bill 17 in 2014, allowing transgender British Columbians to change their gender on their birth certificates. Tru petitioned the Catholic School Board of Vancouver to recognize and respect a student’s gender identity.
Activists like Harriette and Tru reflect the power of young people to petition local communities and governments and advocate for their rights.
This photograph shows Harriette Cunningham (she/her/hers) and Tru Wilson (she/her/hers), two young transgender activists, standing in front of the British Columbia legislature in 2016. They were at the legislature in support of British Columbia’s Bill 27, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, aimed at incorporating protections for gender identity and expression in the Code’s provisions. The Bill passed. The amendment aligns with the Canadian Human Rights Act, which was also amended to include gender identity and expression as protected grounds.
Harriette and Tru are leaders within their communities, advocating equal rights for gender expression. In 2013, Harriette and her grandmother began petitioning local representatives to amend legislation requiring trans people to undergo reassignment surgery before being allowed to change their gender on birth certificates. The legislation passed in 2014 (Bill 17), and Harriette became one of the first British Columbians to receive a new birth certificate.
Tru and her family filed a human rights complaint in 2013 against the Independent Catholic School Board of Vancouver, after her former school refused her request to be treated as a girl. For example, the school refused her request to wear the girls’ school uniform, use the girls’ washroom, and be called by her chosen name. In response to the complaint, the Catholic School Board of Vancouver updated its policy, allowing families to request that a student’s specific gender request be accommodated.
The inspirational stories of Harriette and Tru make it clear that people of all ages can advocate for their rights.
Summary
- This photograph of transgender youths Harriette Cunningham (she/her/hers) and Tru Wilson (she/her/hers) shows them standing in front of the British Columbia legislature in 2016, advocating for the province’s Bill 27, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, to include gender identity and expression. The Act was amended.
- Harriette Tru Wilson have both made significant changes within their communities in relation to gender identity and expression. They have helped to change school board policies around gender identity, as well as provincial guidelines related to gender identity on birth certificates.
- Harriette and Tru demonstrate that youth can make a real difference when it comes to supporting and expanding human rights.
Essential
This photograph shows Harriette Cunningham (she/her/hers) and Tru Wilson (she/her/hers) standing in front of the British Columbia legislature in 2016. The two young transgender activists were advocating for the protection of gender expression against discrimination in the province’s Bill 27, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act.
Both Harriette and Tru have worked for equal rights within their communities. Harriette raised awareness leading to the amendment of Bill 17 in 2014, allowing transgender British Columbians to change their gender on their birth certificates. Tru petitioned the Catholic School Board of Vancouver to recognize and respect a student’s gender identity.
Activists like Harriette and Tru reflect the power of young people to petition local communities and governments and advocate for their rights.
In-Depth
This photograph shows Harriette Cunningham (she/her/hers) and Tru Wilson (she/her/hers), two young transgender activists, standing in front of the British Columbia legislature in 2016. They were at the legislature in support of British Columbia’s Bill 27, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, aimed at incorporating protections for gender identity and expression in the Code’s provisions. The Bill passed. The amendment aligns with the Canadian Human Rights Act, which was also amended to include gender identity and expression as protected grounds.
Harriette and Tru are leaders within their communities, advocating equal rights for gender expression. In 2013, Harriette and her grandmother began petitioning local representatives to amend legislation requiring trans people to undergo reassignment surgery before being allowed to change their gender on birth certificates. The legislation passed in 2014 (Bill 17), and Harriette became one of the first British Columbians to receive a new birth certificate.
Tru and her family filed a human rights complaint in 2013 against the Independent Catholic School Board of Vancouver, after her former school refused her request to be treated as a girl. For example, the school refused her request to wear the girls’ school uniform, use the girls’ washroom, and be called by her chosen name. In response to the complaint, the Catholic School Board of Vancouver updated its policy, allowing families to request that a student’s specific gender request be accommodated.
The inspirational stories of Harriette and Tru make it clear that people of all ages can advocate for their rights.