Politic?

Agenda: Who Is Harassing Whom?

"That really got to me. I shouldn't have to do this amount of work to get a leg wax or a Brazilian wax. I shouldn't have to scour to find a salon willing to do ... what is customarily available to the public."
"It hurts ... if everywhere I go, I get shut down for who I am."
Transgender 'woman' -- "JY"

"Please stop harassing my gf [girlfriend] or we will take further action [police]. She explained to you what she does and does not do."
"Do not call her work again and don't bother messaging me back. Get a life when someone says no move on."
"You did harass her over and over she didn't respond and you call her work get a f-----g life."
"I'll be posting about you on my own account I have all the proof of harassment."
Jeremy Paradis, Surrey, British Columbia

"The complainant wants to punish our client and compel her to pay a fine."
"We do not agree that this is appropriate, so it must go to a hearing."
Jay Cameron, lawyer, Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, Calgary

"[The only staff member who does male waxing was on sick leave], however, we also welcome and support all of our staff members and respect their religious beliefs and feelings of safety and dignity in regards to the right to perform waxing services on males or male genitals."
Jason Carruthers, president, Mad Wax, Windsor, Ontario

Jason Carruthers, president of Mad Wax, a Windsor, Ont., spa which faces a human rights complaint similar to the one filed against Mint Tanning Lounge in Surrey, B.C. Dan Janisse/Postmedia/File

Denied service at Mad Wax body hair removal business in Windsor, Ontario, a transgender woman is seeking $50,00 to compensate for 'her' hurt feelings. Mad Wax's president explained that on the day in question the only employee on duty happened to be a Muslim woman for whom touching men outside her family is forbidden, and she refused the male woman's request for a waxing. At the time in question the sole staff member who did do male waxing happened to be on sick leave. This explanation evidently failed to suffice and the case will appear for mediation in October.

When another unnamed transgender woman in British Columbia followed up on an advertisement on Facebook for waxing services, she asked the location of the Mint Tanning Lounge. Aesthetician Shelah Poyer responded with the location. "Awesome! Do you do Brazilians"? wrote the woman back. "Not for men, sorry", was the response from Ms. Poyer. "I'm actually female. I transitioned a while ago", replied the transgender woman, asking for an appointment, only to find there was no response forthcoming.

The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal was brought into the picture when the transgender woman identified by the tribunal only as "JY" charged she was the victim of gender identity discrimination. An apology and a cheque for $2,500 would make her feel better over the unfortunate denial of services. The transgender woman, a digital entrepreneur, has filed fifteen complaints against salons located from Vancouver to Abbotsford in British Columbia. She is obviously on a righteous campaign, incensed that of 18 salons she had contacted three only agreed to give her service.

The aesthetician at Mint Tanning Lounge, Shelah Poyer, is being represented by lawyers at the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, based in Calgary, where lawyer John Carpay explained that his client simply didn't have the supplies or the requisite training to enable her to perform a "Manzilian" wax job. "As such, she is unqualified and unable to provide the service", he stated. "Not wishing to enter into controversy, Ms. Poyer declined to speak further with the complainant".

Ms. Poyer's boyfriend, Jeremy Paradis, is also named in the complaint for purportedly sending harassing and threatening messages to the sensibility-wounded transgender woman. Mr. Paradis questions the complainant's use of a male name in his/her communications; in essence contradicting his claim to have transitioned to a female.