After she was denied medical care for a body part she reportedly did not have, a transgender woman claimed she was discriminated against by a gynaecologist.
The situation escalated as legal action was filed and has since divided public opinion worldwide.
Keep reading to learn more.
Jessica Yaniv – now known as Jessica Simpson – is a Canadian transgender activist who sparked controversy in 2018 after filing multiple human rights complaints against beauticians who refused to wax her male genitalia.
Simpson requested a Brazilian wax, a procedure that removes all or part of pubic hair in women. When performed on male genitalia, it is often called a “brozilian” or “manzilian,” and estheticians receive specific training for each.
Simpson, 37, still has male genitalia but accused five independent beauty workers of refusing service, demanding up to $15,000 in damages from each.
“None of these providers had any issue with anything until I mentioned I was transgender,” the Langley, British Columbia resident told the court, according to the Telegraph.
Simpson vs. beauticians
In 2019, she lost a landmark discrimination case in Canada and was ordered to pay $2,000 in damages to each of three respondents who testified. The court also stated she showed “animus toward certain racial, religious and cultural groups.”
The workers were home-based estheticians from minority backgrounds who worked from home, had limited English, and later had to shut down their businesses after Simpson’s complaints.
They provided Brazilian waxing services to female clients but were not trained or equipped to work on male anatomy.
When asked by the Calgary Herald if she felt responsible for their businesses closing, she said: “No, why should I feel bad? The one who was the victim here was me. The way that I see it, all women should receive the same service.”
Simpson vs. fire department
Over the following years, the “activist,” described by one BC Supreme Court Justice as a “prolific litigant,” filed complaints against beauty pageants, the RCMP, provincial health authorities, and a local news outlet.
In February 2021, the Langley Fire Department issued a warning after Simpson reportedly made more than 30 calls for help getting out of the bath.
“Since January 21, the Fire Department has received and responded to over 30 such calls for assistance, none of which constituted a medical emergency,” the letter stated.
It also added that Simpson had allegedly engaged in “inappropriate and lewd conduct” toward staff, creating an unsafe environment. “This is not acceptable… and will not be tolerated going forward.”
She responded with a now-deleted tweet saying she would “be suing the township for libel and other things,” according to the Western Standard.
Simpson vs. gynecologist
Despite prior legal issues, including charges such as mischief, assault, possession of a prohibited weapon, and inappropriate communications, Simpson has continued filing complaints.
Most recently, she targeted a gynecologist’s office that allegedly told her: “we don’t serve transgender patients.”
In a now-deleted Instagram post, Simpson said she felt “shocked… and confused… and hurt.”
“Are they allowed to do that, legally? Isn’t that against the college practices,” she wrote on X, tagging the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC).
She also argued that gynecologists are part of multidisciplinary care for transgender and non-binary patients.
There have been no confirmed updates on the complaint since it was filed in 2019.
What people are saying
Critics have argued that medical specialization matters. Kirralie Smith of Binary said: “Having plastic surgery and taking artificial hormones doesn’t magically turn a male into a female… [Simpson] needs to see a transgender specialist, not a doctor who specialises in women’s health care.”
Comedian Ricky Gervais also commented sarcastically on the situation, writing: “It’s disgusting that a qualified gynaecologist can refuse to check a lady’s cock for ovarian cancer…”
He later added another satirical post referencing Simpson in a Halloween joke.
Trans healthcare
Medical professionals increasingly emphasize anatomical differences between natal female anatomy and surgically constructed anatomy, especially in routine gynecological care. Experts note that anyone with a cervix, uterus, ovaries, or related organs requires appropriate screening regardless of gender identity.
A person assigned male at birth typically does not require standard gynecological care unless they have undergone genital reconstruction surgery.
At the time of the complaint, Simpson had not undergone such surgery.
Experts argue the issue is primarily about clinical suitability and safety rather than discrimination.
