Podcast, Social Justice, Community

Episode 12: Discussion on Trans Rights — with Adrienne Smith

March 11, 2019

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Adrienne Smith joins Am Johal and Melissa Roach in conversation for episode 12 of Below the Radar. A poet and human rights lawyer, Adrienne has a passion for social justice and advocacy. They work to protect and uphold workers’ rights, seeking justice for trans and non-binary people. In this episode, they talk about the issues of misgendering folks in the justice system or in a workplace, and how the conflation of sex and gender can have dangerous repercussions on those who may not be out in their workplace.

They also speak to the policy and accessibility issues of being a trans person within a healthcare system and what the geographical implications of healthcare can be for trans folks. Adrienne works pro bono for the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre providing legal support to trans and gender diverse folks.

Read the Transcript

About Our Guest

Adrienne Smith

Adrienne Smith is a transgender human rights activist and drug policy lawyer. They recently settled a BC Supreme Court case which guaranteed access to opiate replacement therapy for prisoners in BC jails. Adrienne appeared at the BC Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada where they argued about the deleterious effects of mandatory minimum sentences for women, Indigenous people, and drug users. At the Canadian Labour Congress, they advocate for transgender inclusion in our unions and workplaces.

CITE THIS EPISODE

CHICAGO STYLE

Johal, Am and Melissa Roach. “Discussion on Trans Rights — with Adrienne Smith.” Below the Radar, SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement. Podcast audio, March 11, 2019. https://www.sfu.ca/vancity-office-community-engagement/below-the-radar-podcast/episodes/12-adrienne-smith.html.