Ontario Human Rights Tribunal dismisses Jessica Simpson’s complaint against Canada Galaxy Pageants

Transgender activist Jessica Yaniv (Photo courtesy of CBC)

TORONTO, ON: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is pleased to announce that the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario has dismissed Jessica Simpson’s complaint against Canada Galaxy Pageants. The decision was issued on July 28, 2025, after Simpson failed to file the materials required for the hearing despite being given multiple extensions on previous occasions.

Canada Galaxy Pageants was fully prepared to defend itself against Simpson’s discrimination allegations. The hearing was expected to feature evidence from six parents who planned to testify that it is not appropriate for transwomen with male genitals to participate in a women's beauty pageant where their underaged daughters are competing.

Female contestants were also expected to testify that they would withdraw from the pageant if individuals with male genitals were allowed to compete.

The conflict began in 2019, when Jessica Simpson (identifying at the time as Jessica Yaniv) was asked whether she had fully transitioned to female prior to competing in a beauty pageant. Simpson refused to answer and filed a complaint with the Tribunal, seeking $10,000 in damages for “injury to dignity and feelings” and a ruling against the pageant that it must allow biological males to participate alongside biological females, including young girls.

Constitutional lawyer Allison Pejovic said, “Sometimes justice is served before parties set foot into a hearing. After five years of delays on the Tribunal’s end and then giving Jessica Simpson many chances to properly prepare for the hearing, the Tribunal did the right thing to dismiss Simpson’s complaint of discrimination based on gender identity and expression.”

“Throughout this process, Canada Galaxy Pageants and concerned parents and citizens pushed back against a demand they considered indecent and inappropriate, and stood up for safe spaces for women and girls,” stated Ms. Pejovic.

“While we wish that the Tribunal had dismissed the complaint as frivolous, the Tribunal’s decision still sends a strong message about the importance of procedural integrity,” concluded Ms. Pejovic.

The Justice Centre commends Canada Galaxy Pageants for standing up for parental rights and the right of women and girls to access female-only safe spaces.

For media inquiries, please contact media@jccf.ca.

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