Not long after Alberta’s decision to eliminate all forms of gender reassignment surgery from its public health care, Manitoba has followed suit, calling it an “unnecessary treatment” and citing savings for the economy. The surgery would affect only an estimated 20 Manitobans per year.

The Manitoba Health Department had previously suggested to the government that the province completely fund all forms of gender reassignment surgeries on the grounds that it dramatically improves the lives of people who suffer from a recognized disorder. A document prepared by the Health Department described the necessity clearly, but was dismissed by Gary Doer’s NDP government:

Manitoba has no standards of care for Gender Identify Disorder in spite of the fact that internationally accepted standards exist. Coverage is denied on the basis that treatments are cosmetic, experimental or not medically necessary, contrary to all available evidence.

Ontario had previously tried to delist gender reassignment surgery from its public health care, but was forced to re-introduce it by the Human Rights Commission ten years ago.

• NDP denies request [Winnipeg SUN]

A refugee claimant in Winnipeg is set to be deported to his native Nigeria after failing to prove that he’s gay. The anonymous refugee said that, as a gay man, life for him was not safe in his home country. Indeed, homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria, and violators can face lengthy prison terms.

Judge Yves de Montigny, however, rejected the refugee’s claims, saying that since the man couldn’t describe the function of EGALE—Canada’s largest gay rights organisation—and confused the names of two Winnipeg gay bars, he mustn’t be gay at all. This new legal definition of “gay” now puts most of Canada’s gay men in danger of deportation.

The 38 year old man says he will apply to stay in the country on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, though if past cases are any indication, he won’t have much luck. Canada’s record on gay immigrants is atrocious, and doesn’t appear to be improving.

• Judge rules gay story fake [Winnipeg SUN]

Take Pride Winnipeg, an organisation devoted to picking up litter and removing graffiti in Manitoba, might be changing its name. Board member and City councilor Grant Nordman sent a letter to the Winnipeg city council expressing concern that the current name promotes an “alternative lifestyle,” adding that the misconception is “a fairly common occurrence.”

Take Pride’s manager, Colleen Kurlowich, had some doubts over the proposal:

I’ve been here 61/2 years, and I’ve received maybe four or five calls where there has been confusion about our mission.

At the top of their new name recommendations: “Rainbow Patrol: We’re not gay, we just like to be tidy.”

• Pride and prejudice? [Winnipeg SUN]
• Take Pride; Not Gay Pride [CJOB News]

A Manitoba civil marriage commissioner is appealing to the Queen’s Bench after his commissioner’s license was suspended for denying public services to a same-sex couple. Kevin Kisilowsky claims that by having to serve all people equally, his religious freedoms as a Christian were horribly violated. The poor dear!

Interesting stuff, though! I wasn’t aware that Christianity forbids followers from providing non-religious civil services to gays! “Thou shalt refuse thy job to the gayeth ones.” Hmm… I guess that means I had better look around extra carefully for someone to renew my drivers license this week.

• Gay-marriage foe takes fight to court [Winnepeg SUN]