A transgender lady claims that obtaining gender-affirming identification in Ontario is an 'impossible fight.'

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Kirti Pathak
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Diana Bosco has been seeking to get identification that correctly matches her gender since she transitioned to female four years ago, a procedure she describes as intrusive and hampered by institutional discrimination against transgender individuals. She is presently attempting to obtain an Ontario picture card a government-issued ID for people who do not have a driver's license — with her "sex designation" recorded as "F."

However, she claims she has only encountered roadblocks. "It's been an impossible fight," remarked Bosco. "All of the previous hatred seems to remain in the system and everywhere. I'm at a loss on what to do. I just want to enjoy my life, but I'm having trouble doing so."

Bosco and her LOFT Community Services social worker, Margie Boese, went to a Service Ontario facility in west Toronto earlier this month to apply for the card. She now only has a health card, which means she can't properly file her taxes or qualify for support programmes like the Canada emergency response benefit, which was introduced last year to aid individuals impacted by COVID-related illnesses.

Service Ontario employees questioned Bosco if she'd had "bottom surgery," and she was informed she'd need to submit a note from her surgeon as well as contact information. "It's ridiculous to me," remarked Bosco. "My medical information is only shared with me and my doctor. It was really humiliating to have to justify myself, my gender, to an unknown individual."

Besides, she claims that whether she's undergone genital reconstruction or breast surgery has no bearing on her gender identity. "I am aware of who I am. I don't think I need to prove that to you " she said.

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