VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter has no right to public funds or grants say trans activists, arguing that’s because the shelter won’t provide services to trans women.

The shelter is up for a community service grant, which they have received in the past.

But trans activist Morgane Oger says the shelter shouldn’t qualify for city grants because it denies services to trans women.

“If Vancouver rape relief were to be looking for federal funding, they would be denied on the basis of their actions,” Oger adds. “An organization that discriminates against people on the basis of fundamentally protective rights should always be denied public taxpayers funding. Whether it’s in the form of charity receipts or indirect funding.”

Oger says a small group of speakers will attend Wednesday’s council meeting to voice their concerns and ask staff to reconsider giving VRR a community services grant.

“I do understand that they have fought since day one for women’s rights and sometimes people that have been in the trenches, they have been in the trenches for too long,” says Oger. “Vancouver Rape Relief is the last rape relief organization in B.C., that I know of, that discriminates the way they do.”

Oger says there are many other shelters who would use the money in a way that is more inclusive.