Yaniv drops complaints against Vancouver salons

Serial human rights complainant Jessica Yaniv has ended two lawsuits against Vancouver beauty salons, according to a press release from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF).

Yaniv filed complaints against She Point Beauty Studio and Top Touch, two Vancouver beauty salons managed by immigrant women, in January.

Yaniv was born a biological male, but self-identifies as a female. The estheticians refused to provide Yaniv with a Brazilian bikini wax, which is the waxing of the female genital area.

These estheticians said they could not give Yaniv a Brazilian wax because of lack of experience with her type of genitalia, personal discomfort, safety concerns, lack of training, and religious objections.

Yaniv had approached at least 16 beauty salons in Vancouver requesting intimate waxing.

When refused by these estheticians, many of them with small children present while working out of their houses, Yaniv filed human rights complaints with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal. Yaniv alleged discrimination in a service based on gender identity and expression and asked for more than $15,000 in damages in some cases.

She Point Beauty Studio is operated by South Asian women who adhere to the Sikh religion. Yaniv approached the beauty salon in August 2019 and requested a Brazilian bikini wax. The beauty salon refused, stating their services are meant for biological women.

Yaniv proceeded to request leg waxing services. The beauty salon declined to serve Yaniv because leg waxing services took place in private with the customer clad either in underwear or nude from the waist down.

A similar complaint was made against Top Touch.

The JCCF has represented seven estheticians before the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal when dealing with Yaniv's complaints. Three of the complaints were sent to a hearing in July 2019.

The BCHRT dismissed three complaints by Yaniv in October 2019, noting "human rights legislation does not require a service provider to wax a type of genitals they are not trained for and have not consented to wax."

The BCHRT said Yaniv had "engaged in improper conduct" and had filed complaints for "an improper purpose." Yaniv was ordered to pay $2,000 to each esthetician.

The tribunal found that Yaniv had made disparaging comments towards certain ethnic groups and targeted them because of their race. Yaniv said on social media these ethnic groups "aren’t exactly the cleanest people," are "verbally and physically abusive," and claimed "they should be deported" for transphobia if they were not citizens or permanent residents.

Yaniv has allegedly made inappropriate comments to underage girls. Yaniv is alleged to have asked underage girls questions via social media about menstruation and menstrual products.

Yaniv allegedly assaulted Rebel News reporter Keean Bexte outside a British Columbia courthouse in January. Yaniv was arrested and charged with assault and may face up to five years in prison for the alleged assault.

These cases have attracted international attention. Matt Walsh, host of the "The Matt Walsh Show" on the Daily Wire, said on Twitter in July 2019 Yaniv was "using transition as a means to access young girls."

Comedian Ricky Gervais made jokes at Yaniv's expense on Twitter in October 2019 by saying he was going to dress up as her for Halloween.

Jay Cameron, a constitutional lawyer at the JCCF, said in the press release he was satisfied the case has been closed.

"Women have a constitutional right not to be compelled to touch biological males in an intimate or highly personal manner if they are not comfortable doing so," said Cameron in the press release. "Our clients are relieved these matters are concluded."