According to the BC Human Rights Tribunal, it just might be. Agreeing to hear a set of farcical cases in Vancouver, that has pitted a radical transgendered activist, against the owners and estheticians of 14 Vancouver salons.





Details of which are so bizarre and, in many cases, disturbing, they have captured the attention of the international media, with news stations and comedians like Ricky Gervais, weighing in from around the world.





In fact, I can’t even believe we have to have this conversation, in 2019. It’s not sexist … it’s not homophobic … it’s not transphobic … it’s just common sense.





And while the utter ridiculousness might tempt you to simply roll your eyes or even laugh, the truth behind this particular story is much darker and sinister than it first appears.





But to understand the truth, you must first understand the complainant, 32-year-old Jessica Yaniv, a transgendered woman, who is still a biological male with male genitalia and who, until recently went by the name of Jonathan. An individual who has been disowned by others in the transgendered community, as the details of Yariv’s actions have come to light.



First, Yaniv would call the small and sometimes home-run female salons and inquire about their services, at times pretending to be a biological woman on her period. Then, at some point on it was revealed the Yaniv, in fact, had male genitalia, at which time the salon workers, unequipped and uncomfortable with such a request, politely declined the transaction.





A course of events, one would think, that’d be entirely predictable … which was exactly what Yaniv was counting on. Yaniv would then demand thousands of dollars in extortion payments from the salons, under threat of formal complaint to the BC Human Rights Tribunal; forcing at least one owner completely out of business.





Forcing women to wax your male genitalia, is not a “basic human right." It’s just plain wrong. The more I researched the case of Jessica Yaniv, the more shocking and disturbing details I found ~~ Aaron Gunn





And here’s the thing. Even if the women were comfortable with providing their services to Yaniv, on a man it’s a completely different procedure, apparently called a ‘manzilian’, that many estheticians are simply not equipped or trained for. Which really isn’t surprising, given the differences, let’s call it, localized terrain.





But much more importantly is this: forcing a woman to touch male genitalia, of which she is uncomfortable touching, is not a step forward for human rights … it’s a massive leap backwards. A woman should have the right to say no, no matter what.





In fact, I can’t even believe we have to have this conversation, in 2019. It’s not sexist … it’s not homophobic … it’s not transphobic … it’s just common sense.





But unfortunately, this sideshow of a story doesn’t stop here -- in fact, it gets much, much more disturbing. Following the removal of a publication ban on the hearing last month, a number of young females have come forward with alarming accusations of sexual harassment, and exploitation, against Yaniv.





With screenshots alleging to show Yaniv messaging girls as young as 14, hitting on them, inquiring about menstruation, entering female washrooms, and even inviting one to view child pornography; basically, the stuff of nightmares.





The fact, that under these conditions, the BC Human Rights Tribunal has still agreed to hear Yaniv’s case is mockery to the justice system and an insult to justice.





Our taxpayer dollars fund this tribunal to hear and decide genuine human rights complaints – not garbage like this. And yet over the next three months, they will now be debating a question that any reasonable Canadian could have already answered for them.



