Tag Archives: fierté

Pride Month 2022 — Flying the flag with pride

In honour of Pride Month, in recognition of the hard-fought victories of the LGBTQ2+ communities, and in support of the continuing fight against discrimination, the Customs and Immigration Union will be flying the Pride Flag for the duration of the month of June 2022.

For the first time in our union’s history, the Pride Flag is displayed prominently outside the CIU National Office, in Ottawa, serving both as a reminder of what has been won over the years, and of what remains to be done to end homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia across the country. Members of the LGBTQ2+ communities continue to face harassment and discrimination of all sorts, including in the workplace, and CIU is committed to fight for a safer, more inclusive work environment.

To our members who are facing a difficult situation at work due to discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation: Your union is here for you. Please contact us if you’re in need of assistance.

PSAC kicks off Pride season with launch of Gender Inclusive Language Toolkit

Using inclusive language helps people feel valued and welcomed within our union, the labour movement, and our communities. By using gender inclusive language, we’re not only showing that we value inclusion, but we’re also promoting gender equity for all.

We’re proud to launch PSAC’s Gender Inclusive Language Toolkit on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and at the beginning of Pride season, in which we celebrate the activism, advocacy and resilience of LGBTQ2+ communities.

This toolkit is designed to help members, elected leaders and staff interact in a way that respects and celebrates our unique and diverse gender identities

According to the 2020 Public Service Employee Survey results, 21 per cent of gender diverse respondents indicated that they were victims of harassment on the job, compared to 10 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women. This demonstrates that the workplace is still not a safe place for trans, two-spirit and non-binary employees.

People should feel safe and supported regardless of their gender identity. This toolkit outlines the small but tangible steps we can all take to be more inclusive because respecting pronouns and gender identity is for everyone.

The toolkit arises from the “Gender Inclusive Terms” resolution adopted at the 2018 PSAC National Triennial Convention. Resolution GEN 18/100 called on PSAC to “find and implement alternative, more inclusive terms” and to “educate the membership on the importance of inclusivity in greetings.”

You can also download and print a brief one-pager to post on the union bulletin board in your workplace or share as a handout at events. This companion piece gives readers an overview of the topic and encourages them to learn more with the full toolkit.

This article was first posted on the PSAC website.

PSAC celebrates Pride

Pride Banner — Bannière de la Fierté

PSAC proudly joins our members across the country in celebrating Pride this summer. While we may not be able to march together this year, the fierce spirit of Pride lives on in virtual events hosted coast to coast to coast celebrating the resiliency and perseverance of LGBTQ2+ communities. Pride is not only a vibrant and vocal way to recognize the achievements of LGBTQ2+ people, but it is also a rallying cry to end discrimination, homophobia, transphobia and biphobia.

LGBTQ2+ communities have been hit hard by the pandemic. They experienced more layoffs and job losses than the national average, and LGBTQ2+ Black, Indigenous and racialized people were twice as likely to report a significant negative impact on their mental health and two times more likely to know someone who has died of COVID-19.

This disproportionate impact and the ongoing discrimination against members of the LGBTQ2+ community is why PSAC continues to fight for LGBTQ2+ inclusion practices in federal workplaces and are advocating for safer, trans-inclusive workplaces. We’re also holding the government accountable to include the LGBTQ2+ communities in their review of the Employment Equity Act and to collect more meaningful census data to protect them under the Act, particularly after the LGBT Purge.

Across Canada, PSAC supports legislation banning LGBTQ2+ conversion therapy and continues to demand that the Liberal government eliminate the blood ban for gay men and trans women – an unscientific and discriminatory policy Trudeau’s government has promised to change.

PSAC stands with Canada’s proud LGBTQ2+ communities and calls on governments and employers to combat all forms of discrimination, violence and oppression against LGBTQ2+ people.

This Pride, let’s come together virtually to celebrate, resist and fight for a better tomorrow.

Contact your regional office to find out more about PSAC’s human rights committees and how you can get involved.

Download our digital Pride materials

This article has also been posted on the PSAC website.

Show Your Pride

Pride flag

Over the next few months, members and allies of the LGBTQ2+ community across the country will be celebrating Pride and recommitting to equality and justice.

Due to COVID-19, these annual celebrations won’t be highlighted by parades, marches, picnics, teach-in’s and other gatherings that usually mark Pride celebrations. While we are all saddened by the changes to Pride this year, LGBTQ2+ communities will continue to be resilient and strong. Pride organizations around the world are reimagining what Pride looks like. Several organizations will be taking to online platforms and hosting virtual Pride events. However celebrations take place this year, they will be woven with love, pride and allyship.

Reflecting on our past

Pride provides us with a moment to reflect on our past and recognize that there is much more work left to be done.

It is important to recognize that Black and racialized trans and queer women paved the way to the Pride celebrations we take part in today. Pride was born out of a political and cultural uprising, which began on June 28, 1969, during the Stonewall Riots. The riots began after two racialized trans women, Marsha Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, fought against the New York Police Department’s treatment of the LGBTQ2+ community.

Although we have made progress for LGBTQ2+ rights, the most marginalized of our communities (those who are racialized, Indigenous, Black, living with disabilities, without financial resources, trans and non-binary) remain disproportionately affected by discrimination.

Continuing the fight for justice

Pride is a time for PSAC to commit to strengthening even more our fight for justice for our LGBTQ2+ members and LGBTQ2+ communities everywhere. We pledge to:

  • continue to fight to eliminate the discriminatory ban that remains on blood, organ and bone marrow donations from many LGBTQ2+ people
  • fight for workplaces and government policies that are trans-inclusive
  • ensure the government puts a nationwide ban on conversion therapy
  • call on the federal government to collect meaningful census data on LGBTQ2+ groups, to include protections under employment equity and to ensure inclusive government policy
  • fight to include HIV prevention medication and gender-affirming hormone therapies in extended health plans
  • advocate for gender inclusive washrooms in workplaces
  • ensure community, health and social services are affordable and accessible

Celebrate Pride

This Pride Month, we honour and stand in solidarity with our members and activists who continue to work tirelessly to help advance LGBTQ2+ rights.

PSAC encourages our members to participate in Global Pride 2020 , a live-streamed international Pride festival scheduled for Saturday, June 27.

And visit your Regional PSAC website to learn more about Pride events taking place in your region.

Take action! End conversion therapy now!

Conversion therapy is the damaging practice of denying LGBTQ2+ identity and dignity and trying to coerce people to change their identity. For decades, activists across Canada have been demanding the end to this horrific practice. This scarring and damaging process is based on a lie. It hurts children, adults and tears families apart.

At long last, the federal government announced in March 2020 the introduction of Bill C-8 to end the practice of conversion therapy in Canada.

Make sure to ask your local MP to vote in favour when this legislation comes forward soon: see the PSAC website to send a letter.

The original version of this article was first posted on the PSAC website.