A bar in Medicine Hat, Alta., is facing backlash after it told a transgender woman she could not use the female washrooms and later posted a controversial sign that some say is discriminatory.
The Calgary woman, River Rising, said she was also asked many inappropriate questions by the staff.
She says a bar manager told her it would make people uncomfortable if she used the female bathroom.
Then on Tuesday, a photo of a sign in the Corona Tavern was shared on Facebook which stated “You must use the bathroom of your birth gender.”
The bar released a statement about the sign, which said they’ve had numerous complaints about men going into the women’s bathroom since the passing of Bill 7.
They say they posted the sign as a way to keep women safe and unthreatened. (km)
Corona Tavern in Medicine Hat, AB defies Alberta's Human Rights Act by posting this #Transphobic sign … pic.twitter.com/MaigQ5aFjt
— Marni Panas (@marnipanas) July 26, 2016
This is disgusting display of discrimination! Shame on #CoronaTavern! I sure hope a human rights complaint is filed! https://t.co/NduErH6vYC
— Stephanie Kallstrom (@StephKall) July 27, 2016
Second, gender identity and expression are protected. You can't use those protections to eject us from bathrooms. #CoronaTavern
— Aria Ehren (@litui) July 26, 2016
Agencies/Canadajournal