A transgender woman who filed a human rights complaint against a Saskatoon bridal shop earlier this year is pleased with the way the case was settled.

“I’m quite happy with the settlement,” said Rohit Singh Peace, who lodged the complaint earlier this year after Jenny’s Bridal Boutique refused her service.

“I don’t think any other business will do this again.”

Singh Peace came to Saskatoon from India in January 2010 to pursue a master’s degree in biotechnology. In her complaint, she claimed that on April 21 she went into the store with her then-fiance, Colin Peace, and was not allowed to try on wedding dresses because she was a man.
She went public with her story in late April, sparking local protests against the store and attracting national media attention.

On Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission announced a mediated settlement had been reached.

The commission said the owner “infringed Section 12 of The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code by denying a transgender woman service.” According to the Human Rights Commission, the nowformer owner of Jenny’s Bridal Boutique “agreed to provide a personal financial contribution to two local charities” rather than a settlement payment to Peace.

Singh Peace said the donations, $500 each, went to the Avenue Community Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity and AIDS Saskatoon. She had also requested that the former owner apologize publicly in front of the media, but accepted a full written apology instead.