Transwoman from India sparks protest in Saskatoon, Canada
Congratulations to Rohit Singh, transwoman of Indian origin, who got married on April 29, 2013. The refusal of Jenny’s Bridal Boutique to allow her to try on a bridal gown, on the grounds that it would make other customers uncomfortable, sparked a protest by Gender Equality Society of Saskatchewan, and support from multiple quarters.
The Canadian Press wrote:
“Singh said she went to the store on April 21 with her fiancee and a friend and when they selected a dress, they asked to try it on. Singh said the person working at the store assumed that it was for her female friend.
When they explained that the dress was for Singh, the situation went downhill.
“She said, ‘Oh, I don’t allow men to wear dresses in my store.’ I explained to her that I’m not a man, I’m a transgender and my sex-change procedure is going on,” Singh said.
“She told me, ‘It doesn’t matter to me.’ And then she snatched that dress from my hand.”
Singh said she left the shop in tears.
Many people from across North America have expressed scorn for the bridal store on social media.
Singh said she intends to lodge a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.
“I’m damn sure it was discrimination,” Singh said. “She told me, ‘You look like a man and I don’t think men can wear dresses as females’.”
Singh said she later found a dress at another store in Saskatoon, where she said staff were friendly and helpful.
Singh, who is originally from India, explained that she met her fiancee while she was doing a master’s in biotechnology at the University of Toronto.”
Singh did manage to get a bridal dress at another store, My Lynh Bridal, where she is reported to have received excellent service.
good on you rohit! stand up for your rights!! or you will get trampled by uncivilised idiots.
wish you a happy married life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!