Why CUPW Celebrates Gay Pride
An Invitation to Celebrate & Join in LGBT Pride Events
& to march with us in the
VANCOUVER PRIDE PARADE!
Recently I have been asked by a few co-workers; “Why does the union take the time to participate in human rights & events like Gay Pride when we have to focus on our working conditions & our own problems on the work floor?” I can understand where these 
folks are coming from when there are issues facing us like CPC National directives that result in major staffing cuts & policies that make no sense to us & result in a loss of service to the public, delay of mail, health & safety risks & violations of the Collective Agreements are running rampant.
However, in the best of times, let alone in the kind of economic & environmental crisis the world is facing, this is not the time to abandon or lessen our commitment to ensuring that the folks on the margins of our society do not fall further through the cracks.
We can’t be fooled into thinking that LGBT rights are less relevant or necessary at this point in history. Television throws scads of gay couples into their sitcoms, Will & Grace reruns abound and who could hate Ellen? But what about the four individuals recently arrested for violent attacks on people in Vancouver’s west end? What of the need to provide inspiration and courage to LGBT communities who fight daily for their human rights and face violence, punishment, incarceration and even death because of their sexuality?
It is a basic union principle to fight for minority rights. Keep in mind that it was a crime in Canada to be gay or Lesbian until 1969 when it was decriminalized. In 1996 the Canadian Human Rights act was changed to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Over the years, the labour movement has supported political action & legal action to win protections against the discrimination of LGBT members. In Canada, we now have legal recognition of same-sex couples and equal marriage.
Despite these victories, we know that discrimination & human rights violations are a daily occurrence on our work floors. Having human rights enshrined in legislation does not mean that our members who are Lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender do not suffer from discrimination at work.
CUPW is committed to the fight for equality for all workers & will continue to fight for human rights through our education, publications, the work of our committees, activists and the actions of you and I on the work floor.
In the spirit of the celebration of diversity and the continued struggle for human rights, I would like to extend a warm invitation to all CUPW members of the LGBT community, straight allies, families & friends to join us at the Vancouver Pride Parade on August 1, 2010.
Show your Pride! Celebrate our diversity proudly & openly!
Be a part of the largest Pride event in Western Canada. Last year the parade spanned 20 blocks & attracted an audience of over 600,000. The Pride Parade is an exciting family event where every one is welcome. The Parade begins at 12:00, Sunday August 1st at the Robson Street and Thurlow Street insection.
If you would like to march in the Parade with us – the ‘marshalling’ areas have not yet been determined by the Pride officials, so please check our web site after July 27 at: www.cupw-vancouver.org or call our local office at 604 685-6581 for the location of where our CUPW group will meet as part of the Multi-Union Pride Delegation. The Parade starts at Robson & Thurlow – so it will be near that area & it’s probably easier to bike or use transit as it will busy in the immediate vicinity. As the Parade begins at noon, we will need to meet up in our spot at 11:30 a.m. to get into our position.
We will be marching with the CUPW banner & flags. Dress up or come as you are – EVERYONE WELCOME!!!! The more, the merrier – let’s show that Postal Workers have Pride!!
In Solidarity,
Janet Askin
Education Director
You can find more information regarding the Pride Calendar of events at www.vancouverpride.ca
Each year, outstanding individuals from the LGBT community are recognized and celebrated during Pride Week. Grand Marshals of the Pride Parade are members of the local, national, and international community who inspire us with their courage and dedication.
This year under the category International Hero which represents the ideals of equality and respect for LGBT people everywhere – the Grand Marshal is:
Nikolai Alekseev
Nikolai Alekseev is a Russian LGBT rights activist, lawyer and journalist. He is the founder of Moscow Pride, which is officially banned year after year. Together with his advocate group LGBT Human Rights Project, Gayrussia.ru, he has organized a large number of unauthorized public actions to defend the rights of sexual minorities in Russia.
You can read more about him at Gayrussia.ru on the Vancouver Pride website.
| Sunday,July 11, 2010 | Surrey Pride Festival in the Park Holland Park, Whalley, Surrey 12 noon until 5 pm |
| Saturday, July 17, 2010 | Gay Day @ Playland Playland at the PNE |
| Saturday, July 24, 2010 | Picnin in the Park Brockton Oval, Stanley Park |
| Saturday, July 31, 2010 | Vancouver Dyke March and Festival 12 noon, March at McSpadden Park 1 pm, Festival at Victoria Park |
| Sunday, August 1, 2010 | Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival Davie Village and Sunset Beach 12 noon |
| Saturday, August 7, 2010 | New West Pride New Westminster |
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