Tell the Government of Canada to #Act4QueerSafety

Tell the Government of Canada to #Act4QueerSafety and Tackle Rising Hate. 

In the past 3 years, we have witnessed a staggering rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate while the federal government has failed to take decisive action. 

Hate-motivated violence targeting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities is on the rise. Drag spaces are under protest. Visible community leaders are being targeted online. There are efforts to roll back inclusion in our schools, and attacks on essential gender-affirming healthcare have become far too common. 

While the government has taken positive steps in supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, inclusion and health in the past, they have not acted in the face of rising hate. We need their leadership, now.

We are calling on the Government of Canada to immediately:

  • Appoint a Special Representative on addressing and preventing anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate, mandated to provide guidance and undertake activities to address rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate in Canada. 
  • Fund a new grant program to address anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate and misinformation targeting queer and trans communities, and empower 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations - especially pride organizations to address safety and security concerns.
  • Publicly and unequivocally condemn rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate and reaffirm Canada's commitment to 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
  • Appoint a Canadian Special Envoy on International LGBTIQ+ Human Rights to promote LGBTIQ+ equality and human rights around the world
  • Ensure anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate is meaningfully addressed in the upcoming National Action Plan on Combatting Hate
  • Host a National Summit on Third Party Violence with Unions, Governments, Employees and Civil Society Organizations

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Understanding the Issue

Understanding the Rise in Anti-2SLGBTQIA+ Hate

In the past 3 years, anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate has surged in Canada. From 2020-2021, there was a 64% increase in police-reported hate-motivated violence targeting 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada. Across the country, drag spaces and pride events are being met with anti-2SLGBTQIA+ protestors. 2SLGBTQIA+ community leaders in the public eye are being targeted with hate and online attacks. Efforts are underway to roll back 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in schools, notably regarding essential privacy protections for trans and gender diverse students. Rhetoric equating 2SLGBTQIA+ people with pedophiles abounds in the online world.

The #Act4QueerSafety campaign is a collaborative effort supported by the following organizations:

  • Fernie Pride Society
  • No Conversion Canada
  • Advocacy Canada
  • Sexual Health Nova Scotia
  • Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay
  • YWCA Canada
  • Protect Our Youth
  • SRHR Hubs
  • Spectrum Waterloo Region's Rainbow Community Space
  • Centretown Community Health Centre
  • Oxfam Canada
  • Canadian Anti-Hate Network
  • ACT
  • Alliance for Healthier Communities
  • Trans Legal Collective
  • LGBT YouthLine
  • Sheridan Student Union
  • ROBSON VALLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES
  • Cape Breton Transgender Network
  • Quadrangle NL
  • TransParent Okanagan
  • Nelson Pride
  • Kimberley Pride Society
  • Caledon Pride
  • Fierté Canada Pride
  • ANKORS
  • Eating Disorders Nova Scotia
  • Peer Support Canada
  • Canadian Association of Social Workers
  • Positive Living North
  • Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity
  • Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
  • Options For Sexual Health
  • BC Federation of Labour
  • Sex Information and Education Council Canada (SIECCAN)
  • Queer Justice Project / Hamilton Community Legal Clinic
  • Canadian Mental Health Association
  • West Coast LEAF
  • Pride at Work Canada
  • Young Canadians Roundtable on Health
  • JusticeTrans
  • Capital Pride
  • North Bay Pride
  • Pflag Canada York Region
  • Canadian Labour Congress
  • UFCW Canada
  • Community-Based Research Centre
  • Canadian Union of Public Employees
  • Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association
  • Chroma: Pride, Inclusion, Equality, Inc.
  • Diversity Cornwall
  • Society of United Professionals IFPTE 160
  • Planned Parenthood Toronto
  • Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants - OCASI
  • Capital Rainbow Refuge
  • Sault Pride
  • tri-Pride Community Association
  • The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
  • John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights
  • Fierté Sudbury Pride
  • Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka
  • Keepers of the Circle
  • Gender and Social Justice Program at McMaster University
  • Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society
  • The Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba Inc.
  • CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women)
  • Lakehead University Student Union
  • Jack.org
  • ANKORS Trans Connect
  • The Enchanté Network
  • Egale Canada
  • LGBT Purge Fund
  • FrancoQueer
  • WILPF Canada Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
  • Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa
  • Rainbow Refugee Society
  • Fora: Network for Change
  • Ending Violence Association of Canada
  • Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
  • Elizabeth Fry Society of NWO
  • EFry Greater Vancouver
  • The Equal Futures Network
  • Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network
  • Gillian's Place
  • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
  • Pride PEI
  • Elizabeth Fry Society of Northern Alberta
  • Black Rose Beauty Lounge
  • CUPE Ontario
  • Defend Choice
  • Queer Infrastructure Network
  • Centre for Family Equity
  • Positive Connections
  • Affirming Connections
  • NG Pride
  • Morgane Oger Foundation
  • Choice in Health Clinic
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
  • Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon
  • Stratford-Perth Pride
  • Hamilton Trans Health Coalition
  • The United Church of Canada - Church in Mission
  • Ontario Association of Social Workers
  • Canadian Federation of Students

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