What began as a personal complaint about medical access has grown into one of the most divisive and emotionally charged legal debates in recent years. Jessica Simpson — formerly known as Jessica Yaniv — is a transgender woman in Canada whose actions have drawn global attention, sparked fierce debate, and reignited questions about how society balances gender identity with medical boundaries and professional training.
Her story first made headlines in 2018 when she filed a series of human rights complaints against beauticians who refused to provide her a Brazilian wax. The issue? Simpson, then 37, still had male genitalia, and the estheticians — most of them women of color working out of their homes — were not trained to wax male anatomy. What’s commonly referred to as a “Brazilian” for women becomes a “manzilian” or “brozilian” when involving male anatomy, requiring entirely different techniques and safety standards.
Simpson claimed the refusal amounted to discrimination. The women, several of whom spoke limited English, said they simply weren’t qualified — and felt uncomfortable performing such procedures on male genitalia. Nonetheless, Simpson brought legal action, seeking thousands in damages from each individual. Her argument was clear: she was a woman, and therefore entitled to the same services as any other.The case ignited a firestorm. And in 2019, Canada’s Human Rights Tribunal dismissed her complaints, citing not only a lack of merit, but also calling attention to Simpson’s “racially motivated animus” and what appeared to be a pattern of aggressive, bad-faith litigation. The tribunal ordered her to pay $2,000 in restitution to each of the women who had testified — some of whom had been forced to shutter their small businesses in the wake of the controversy.
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But the waxing complaints were only the beginning.
Over the following years, Simpson lodged more complaints — this time against beauty pageants, a national news network, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and even her local fire department. She reportedly called firefighters over 30 times for non-emergency help getting out of the bathtub. Eventually, they issued a formal warning, accusing her of lewd conduct during those visits. Simpson responded with a defiant social media post promising legal action for “libel and other things.”
Then came her most controversial claim yet: Simpson said she was denied care by a gynecologist because she was transgender.
According to a now-deleted post, Simpson said she was “shocked, confused, and hurt” when a gynecological clinic told her they didn’t provide services to transgender patients. She took her complaint directly to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC), suggesting the refusal amounted to discrimination.
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Online, the public response exploded — and divided sharply.
Critics argued that gynecologists, who specialize in natal female anatomy — uteruses, ovaries, cervixes — are not automatically qualified to treat patients without such organs, especially those who haven’t undergone gender-affirming surgeries. Others emphasized the importance of training, consent, and clinical appropriateness. Supporters of Simpson, however, framed the incident as yet another example of systemic exclusion faced by trans individuals in health care.
“I was discriminated against,” Simpson said, adding that trans women should be fully included in women’s health spaces. “Gynecologists are part of the transition care team. They should know how to treat us.”
But medical professionals pushed back. In an article titled The Importance of Transgender Gynecology, doctors explain that gynecologic care for trans women becomes relevant only after gender-affirming surgery — typically to manage neo-vaginal health. At the time of the alleged incident, Simpson still had male genitalia, which most gynecologists are not trained to assess or treat.
“It’s not about identity,” one medical ethicist noted. “It’s about clinical safety, competence, and appropriate care.”
Even comedian Ricky Gervais weighed in, using biting satire that provoked laughter and outrage in equal measure. “It’s disgusting that a qualified gynecologist can refuse to check a lady’s cock for ovarian cancer,” he tweeted. “What if her bollocks are pregnant?”
Whether viewed as a provocative activist or a chronic litigant, Simpson’s story has left few people indifferent. She’s been accused of racism, misconduct, and even making sexualized comments toward minors — charges that only complicate public perception. Still, she continues to frame herself as the victim. “Why should I feel bad?” she asked when a reporter noted that her complaints had destroyed several small businesses. “The way I see it, all women should receive the same service.”
But perhaps the question that lingers isn’t about whether Simpson was wronged — or whether others were. It’s deeper. Should healthcare and services adjust solely to how people identify, or do anatomical realities and provider safety still have a place in that equation?
Let us know your thoughts. Should personal identity always override biological reality — or is there space for nuance in a world increasingly asked to choose sides?
