Posted on by CUPW Vancouver

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)

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The International Day
Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)

The first “National Day Against Homophobia” in Canada was on June 4, 2003 and was organized by Fondation Émergence in Quebec. The date was later changed to May 17th, to commemorate the day “homosexuality” was removed from the World Health Organization’s classification of diseases, in 1990.

This day is celebrated by an increasing number of countries around the world.

Some recent statistics on Homophobia and Transphobia are cause for alarm and action:

  • The rate of discrimination experienced among students who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-identified, Two-Spirited, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) is three times higher than heterosexual youth.
  • 2010 police-reported hate crime data shows that violence against the LGBTQ community continues to be the most severe of all forms of hate crime in Canada.
  • Two thirds of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) students feel unsafe at school.
  • 37 percent of youth with LGBTQ parents have been verbally harassed about the sexual orientation of their guardians.

Surprisingly, there is evidence that girls and young women are more likely than boys and young men to suffer verbal and physical harassment because of their sexual orientation.

LGBTQ Brothers and Sisters: You are Not Alone

To our LGBTQ brothers and sisters everywhere: you are not alone. You have allies everywhere: in families, in the workplace, in the community and in society. Allies know that until the LGBTQ community is afforded equality, dignity and respect, none of us will truly have these fundamental
rights.

Change is Needed: Bill C-279

On March 20, 2013 the House of Commons passed Bill C-279 by a vote of 149-137. This private member’s bill, introduced by NDP MP Randall Garrison, is designed to do two things:

  1. Add gender identity and gender expression to the prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA).
  2. Amend the hate crimes section of the Criminal Code to include gender identity as a distinguishing characteristic in defining and punishing hate crimes.

Bill C-279 must now be passed by Senate to become law. CUPW, which recently negotiated the inclusion of “gender expression” as a prohibited ground of discrimination in its major collective agreement, urges the Senate to move quickly and pass this bill.

We Must Take Action to End Homophobia and Transphobia.

There are many ways we can help to end homophobia and transphobia:

We could:

  • Contact our MP and ask if there are senators who could be urged to support Bill C-279.
  • Become an ally by downloading “How to be an ally” materials in order to develop more inclusive and welcoming language, behaviours and safe spaces.
  • Participate in upcoming Pride celebrations in your communities.
  • Display the universal LGBTQ rainbow symbol everywhere.
  • Participate on the Internet by visiting LGBTQ websites to research and download printed material to distribute at home, work or in our community.
  • Use social media such as twitter, email, blogs and Facebook to spread the word on your online networks.
  • Report hate directed at LGBTQ persons by reporting any acts of homophobia, bullying, harassment, threats and hateful remarks to the appropriate authorities.
  • Make known to all LGBTQ hate perpetrators that their bullying, harassing behaviour is unacceptable, against the law and must stop.

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) is an important day in the continuing fight for justice, equality, dignity and respect. Please join in!

In solidarity,

Cindi Foreman
2nd vice-president national