May 17 is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and in the lead up to that day, leaders across the country took a pledge to support Rainbow Equality.
For the first time, the Society for Queer Momentum and their partners organized a national Rainbow Week. The week saw events take place across Canada to push back against rising hate of 2SLGBTQIA+ groups, culminating in the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
As a part of the campaign, the Society for Queer Momentum challenged public leaders to take the pledge to support Rainbow Equality. By pledging to support Rainbow Equality, those that make the pledge are committing themselves to supporting and protecting the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.
Many leaders have already taken the pledge, including NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, federal minister for women, gender equality and youth Marci Ien, Green Party leader Elizabeth May, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario president Fred Hahn and many others.
As allies and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, we're pleased to support the Rainbow Week of Action. CUPE members across Ontario have attended rallies and actions, because it's more important than ever that we fight for a better future for all. ✊🏾🏳️🌈📢 pic.twitter.com/Z9E5gU4LNN
— CUPE Ontario (@CUPEOntario) May 15, 2024
Unions speak out on International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
In addition to several labour leaders taking the Rainbow Equality pledge, many unions issued official statements of support on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
The statement from CUPE Ontario reads in part:
“It is vital that we show our support for the protection of rights for members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Support for the Rainbow Week of Action and the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia have a special importance this year, as a coalition of partners sign on to the week. Labour unions and organizations, including CUPE’s National Pink Triangle Committee and the Ontario Federation of Labour, have pledged their support and CUPE Ontario’s Pink Triangle Committee also has put forward a resolution to join as a partner.”
Canada’s largest private sector union, Unifor, was another major union pledging their support on May 17. In a statement, they underscored the importance of supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as they face rising levels of hate.
The Unifor states that:
“2SLGBTQIA+ individuals are currently being targeted by hate-promoting movements in Canada. We see this in aggressive, divisive United States-style policy changes impacting schools across the country. We see this in how trans and gender-diverse people’s access to necessary care is being blocked. We see this in the way discussions on identify and sexual diversity in schools is being restricted, further stigmatizing those struggling to find community, representation, and to better understand gender, identity, and expression.”
Rising levels of hate
The 2SLGBTQIA+ community has seen rising levels of hate and oppression over the past few years in North America.
Last year the so-called 1 Million March 4 Children saw far-right extremists form rallies across Canada calling for the oppression of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals based on baseless propaganda and stereotypes.
There has been growing levels of discrimination against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community at the institutional level as well.
Three provinces in Canada passed laws that attempted to take away rights from 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly trans individuals.
New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Alberta all passed laws requiring students under the age of 17 to receive parental permission before being allowed to use their correct pronouns in school. Alberta also went as far as to block access to lifesaving gender-affirming care for trans youths.
In a visit this week to New Brunswick, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blasted Premier Blaine Higgs for his anti-trans policies.
“I trust parents, I trust schools,” Trudeau said according to a report by the CBC. “And I don’t think we should be trying to score political points off of kids who are incredibly vulnerable, who shouldn’t be targeted by political parties wanting to get elected or to get re-elected.”
Fae Johnstone, executive director of the Society for Queer Momentum said that the 2SLGBTQIA+ community will not be made to live in fear.
“We refuse to live in fear. We refuse to cower because we know that that’s what the homophobes & transphobes want. They want us scared. But we are defiant,” Johnstone wrote on X. “We are speaking up. We are building community, spreading love and taking action for #RainbowEquality.”
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
