$30,000 fine for intentional misconduct

A human rights court in British Columbia, Canada has ruled that refusing to use a person’s correct pronoun is a violation of their human rights.

that British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal The 32-year-old waiter decided in favor of Jesy Nelson. Nelson identifies as non-binary, gender fluid and trans and was fired by bar manager Brian Goebele for refusing to use pronouns. They And Them to use.

Goebele constantly referred to Nelson using pronouns. he / her As well as gender-specific nicknames such as “Sweetheart”, “Honey” and “Pinky”, according to the decision of Devin Cousineau, a member of the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal.

Even though Nelson told the bar manager to stop, he kept going. The second conversation between the two was violent. Four days later, Nelson was fired by Ryan Kingsberry, who runs the restaurant. Reason: Nelson was too demanding and “too extremist”.

Nelson took the matter to the Court of Human Rights, stating that “Gobele’s behavior and the employer’s response to discrimination based on gender identity and expression in the workplace are a violation of British Columbia’s Human Rights Code.”

Judge Cousineau ruled that Nelson’s human rights were violated by intentional mischief. The restaurant’s management must pay Nelson US$30,000 in damages and implement “a pronoun policy and mandatory training for all employees and managers on diversity, equality and inclusion”.

Nelson said out loud during the hearing Pink News: “I don’t expect perfection in the use of my pronouns, I never have.” But intentional and repeated abuse by a bartender is a “trauma in a long series of traumas for a trans person who has gone through a trans experience.”

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Nelson continued: “I was scared and sad about myself, but even more so than I really worried about other people in the future, existence is respected.”

Canada ranks first in the current “Gay Travel Index 2021” (reported by TEM). Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is largely responsible for “his country’s quirky-friendly image”.