A Mississauga-based beauty pageant for women and girls is urging Ontario’s human rights tribunal to dismiss a complaint brought by a transgender activist, saying the case has dragged on for years despite repeated delays and incomplete filings.The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announced this week that it has asked the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to throw out the 2019 complaint filed by Jessica Simpson, also known as Jessica Yaniv. Simpson alleges Canada Galaxy Pageants discriminated against her after she refused to answer whether she had fully transitioned before applying to compete.Simpson is seeking $10,000 in damages for “injury to dignity and feelings” and a ruling that would force the private pageant to allow biological males to participate alongside women and girls as young as six.The pageant maintains it already accommodates fully transitioned transgender women but raised privacy and safety concerns over admitting individuals with intact male genitals to backstage areas where contestants must undress. Organizers argue the inclusion of biological males in these spaces could harm the emotional and physical safety of children.In January, the tribunal ordered both sides to file hearing materials. The pageant submitted nine witness statements, including letters from parents. Simpson missed multiple deadlines and failed to produce a complete case summary or witness list beyond naming her mother. The tribunal granted several extensions despite the deficiencies.“There has not been a human rights case in Canada that has dealt with whether children’s emotional, mental, and physical safety should take precedence over a transwoman’s desire to access a female changeroom,” said the Justice Centre.This beauty pageant has already made reasonable accommodations for fully transitioned transgender females without male genitals," said constitutional lawyer Allison Pejovic.“It is imperative that biological women and girls have safe, secure, female-only places where they won’t have to worry about seeing male genitals,” she added. “Little girls should not be exposed to male genitals. Period.”The tribunal has not yet said whether it will dismiss the complaint or allow a hearing to proceed.
