“2SLGBTQI+ workers make enormous contributions to our workplaces, unions and communities,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Today, and every day, Canada’s unions show our pride by celebrating and fiercely defending the vibrant diversity within our movement.”

We know from research that a 2SLGBTQI-inclusive workforce builds a strong economy. However, the opposite is also true – the discrimination and exclusion that many 2SLGBTQI+ workers face at work and in society have negative impacts on a country’s economic development and prosperity. 

Unfortunately, today’s affordability crisis impacts 2SLGBTQI+ people disproportionately. In 2023:

• 40.7% of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals found it difficult or very difficult to meet financial needs, compared to 32.7% of non-2SLGBTQI+ individuals;
• Racialized 2SLGBTQI+ community members experience even greater income disparities relative to their white counterparts; and
• 2SLGBTQI+ individuals are twice as likely to experience homelessness compared to their heterosexual, cisgender counterparts, while queer women are 4 four times as likely. 

“A strong Canadian economy is one where everyone can thrive, no matter their background, race, religion, or identity. That’s why building a 2SLGBTQI+-inclusive society benefits us all,” adds Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice President of the CLC. “Canada’s unions will continue to lead the charge when it comes to building more inclusive workplaces and defending hard-won gains for 2SLGBTQI+ rights at work and in our communities.”

This Pride season, join Canada’s unions and show your solidarity to celebrate and defend 2SLGBTQI+ rights both at work and in our communities. 

The post Solidarity in our Pride: Unions Welcome 2025 Pride Season in Celebration of 2SLGBTQI+ Workers and Communities appeared first on Canadian Labour Congress.

2SLGBTQI+ workers are integral members of Canada’s labour movement, proudly serving as activists, shop stewards and leaders.

“Pride is a time to celebrate the gains that we’ve made, but it’s also a time to clearly state that we will defend these rights when they are put at risk. We’ve seen a sharp rise in hate-motivated harassment and violence against the 2SLGBTQI+ community, that is being driven by right-wing conservatives,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “We have long recognized a collective responsibility to address discrimination and hate against 2SLGBTQI+ workers, by promoting equality at work and in our communities. So, while we have lots to celebrate this Pride season, we also have so much left to do.”

In the past year, conservative leaders have fomented a climate of hate, fear and loathing by perpetuating harmful queerphobic and transphobic stereotypes through legislated attacks against trans and gender-diverse children, youth and adults. As workers and families are coping with an affordability crisis, climate change and cuts to public services, Conservative politicians are using trans and gender-diverse children as political pawns to distract Canadians from their failure to offer real solutions. 

Their efforts are also supported by individuals and groups in the anti-gender movement, who use intimidation and harassment to undermine any efforts of businesses and institutions to foster inclusion, equity and safety for 2SLGBTQI+ people.

“Let us be unequivocal: anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate is a worker issue. The bigotry and violence directed at our 2SLGBTQI+ siblings jeopardize their fundamental human rights,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the CLC. “And anti-2SLGBTQI+ hate often manifests as harassment and violence in workplaces, posing serious health and safety risks for workers. We need a unified response rooted in solidarity from all workers, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.”

Canada’s unions remain committed to our core principle: an injury to one is an injury to all. We stand resolute against any attempts by conservatives to erode our hard-won rights. We will continue to amplify the voices of 2SLGBTQI+ workers and tirelessly advocate for a Canada that is safe, just, and inclusive for all.

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“We care about the well-being of children. We also know that it is tough for kids to feel different from others growing up, and how important it is to feel safe and included at school. Unfortunately, conservative politicians are trying to make it more challenging for kids and youth by undermining the ability of parents, caregivers, educators, and health care providers to support them,” said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC. “Unions are in the business of defending people’s human rights, whether they’re union members or not. We will not sit by as 2SLGBTQI+ kids’ rights are attacked.”

Bruske added: “Political leaders have a choice to either facilitate bullying and harm against trans children and youth or to protect their safety and well-being.”

In the past year, there’s been a rise in policies, legislation, and actions that undermine the ability of 2SLGBTQI+ youth to learn and grow in safe and affirming environments. Even before this recent increase in harmful policies, 2SLGBTQI+ children were facing difficulties at school. In 2021, Egale’s second national climate survey on homophobia, transphobia and biphobia in Canadian schools revealed:  

• 2SLGBTQ students report more incidents of homophobic, biphobic, and/or transphobic verbal, physical, and sexual harassment and other forms of targeted bullying than their cisgender heterosexual peers;

• 77% of 2SLGBTQ Indigenous students had been harassed at school in the year leading up to the survey, the highest percentage of any group, and they were more likely to report skipping school due to feeling unsafe; and

• 2SLGBTQ Black students were most likely to be verbally harassed about their race and to indicate that they wished they attended a different school.

• Overall, 62% of 2SLGBTQ respondents reported feeling unsafe at school, compared to 11% of cisgender heterosexual students.  

“Recent policy changes are fueling hate, forcing 2SLGBTQI+ kids and youth to hide their identities and go without support from their teachers. They’re losing access to critical education about gender identity and sexual orientation. It shouldn’t be a struggle for educators to create affirming, inclusive, and welcoming school environments, but educators are facing backlash, with many of them identifying this as a barrier to creating school-wide gender inclusivity,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the CLC.

In Alberta, for example, parents and doctors are facing government overreach, disrupting their ability to provide quality healthcare to trans and gender-diverse kids and youth. 

Pink Shirt Day began as an initiative in a small-town Nova Scotia school in 2007 to counter homophobia and transphobia at school. It has since grown into a movement to create a more kind and inclusive world by raising awareness and funds for anti-bullying initiatives. 

This year, Canada’s unions remind governments that all children deserve the freedom to grow and express themselves without fear of bullying, ostracism, or violence. Anything less is unacceptable.

In solidarity with 2SLGBTQI+ leaders, we are calling on conservative politicians to stop bullying 2SLGBTQI+ kids: 

• Repeal any legislation and rescind any policies that deny trans and queer youth the ability to be safe and thrive at school and in their communities; and

• Collaborate with 2SLGBTQI+-led organizations to identify educational resources and best practices to create welcoming, safe, inclusive learning environments. 

You can take action too! Sign on to the Free and Equal Alberta letter writing campaign.

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By enacting these policies, these governments have condoned the hateful behaviour of people across the country who are targeting and endangering trans children. In this climate of rising hate, Canada’s schools should be inclusive and safe spaces for children and staff to be present and protected, not places that out kids to potentially unsupportive families. 

Politicians must be held accountable to make evidence-based, compassionate decisions that prioritize human rights and support the protection of marginalized communities such as 2SLGBTQI+ youth from violence and harassment. 

A silver lining in all of this has been the swift action taken by workers and their unions across the country. As news of hate-based marches and protests spread, so too did plans for counter-protests, often organized by unions, labour councils, and federations of labour. Standing in solidarity against hate and injustice has always been a cornerstone of the labour movement, and that was proven again this week. 

I am proud to be part of the fight against regressive and hate-motivated actions like the recent decisions in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan and the increasing harassment of trans youth. 

Canada’s unions will always fight for a fairer, just, and more equitable future for all – including children.  

-Bea 

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“Whether on the shop floor, in union halls or in government spaces, Canada’s unions know that we are stronger together. We will continue to build unity not only to celebrate, but to defend the diversity within our movement. Our commitment to fighting against homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination is a daily practice that extends beyond just Pride season,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “Pride is an important opportunity for us to highlight this work, but our solidarity and support reaches much further.”

The rise of anti-2SLGBTQI+ phobia and violence has been an alarming trend across Canada and around the world. According to a recent report from Statistics Canada, domestic police-reported hate crimes based on sexual orientation increased drastically – by almost 60 per cent between 2019 and 2021. A 2018 report also found that transgender Canadians are disproportionately more likely to experience violence than their cis-gender counterparts, including in public, online and at work.

According to ACLED, a non-partisan organisation that compiles statistics on violence globally, anti-LGBTQ mobilizations in the United States more than tripled in 2022 compared to 2021. This led to horrific tragedies including the Colorado nightclub shooting, and has raised concerns of a spillover effect in Canada.

In fact, anti-inclusion and pro-violence campaigns are continuing to gain momentum in our country, targeting a growing number of Pride events and related programming. They also seek to undermine important legislative gains aimed at increasing equity and inclusion of 2SLGBTQI+ communities in Canada. This includes disruptions at local drag story-time events and attacks against inclusive curriculum development in schools. Many of these anti-2SLGBTQI+ mobilizations have documented connections to far right and white supremacist groups . These connections include direct funding from and similar strategy to anti-2SLGBTQI+ fascist organisations, based in the U.S. and globally. 

In the face of mounting hate, we will continue to vehemently oppose racism, colonialism, homophobia, biphobia, intersexphobia and transphobia in all of its forms, across Canada and around the world.

“The actions of a hateful few threaten to injure the progressive, inclusive and equitable vision for all that our labour movement has defended for decades. But make no mistake: Canada’s unions will continue to show up to defend these hard-fought gains on 2SLGBTQI+ rights, in the workplace and in our communities. We will fervently defend against the bigotry and ignorance peddled by the far right,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the CLC.

While the new federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan is an important first step, more direct action is needed to support local organisations, particularly in rural areas. Canada’s unions will continue to lobby governments at every level to support and protect these organisations dedicated to combatting homophobia and transphobia. We are equally committed to helping sustain safe community spaces for 2SLGBTQI+ people across Canada and around the world.

Canada’s unions must also be part of the solution to end homophobia, transphobia and 2SLGBTQI+ phobia internally by showing leadership and challenging discrimination anywhere we see it. We can do this with member education, awareness campaigns, bargaining 2SLGBTQI+ collective agreement language, and participating in pride events every year. 

Show your support by attending Pride events in your community. Be sure to download our Workers in Transition Guide to learn more on how you can support trans people in your workplace.

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“All workers, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity, deserve to work free of violence and harassment. Unfortunately, this reality is especially untrue for 2SLGBTQI+ workers, who often face disproportionate amounts of discrimination and bullying at work.” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress. 

In fact, the CLC’s most recent survey on harassment and violence in Canadian workplaces found that 73% of gender-diverse respondents reported experiencing multiple forms of harassment and violence at work, a disproportionately high number compared to their cisgender colleagues. LGBTQ2S+ respondents were also more likely to have experienced harassment and violence, particularly sexual harassment and violence.

A 2020 study on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual earnings in the Canadian labour market also found these populations were more likely to earn lower incomes, experience more discrimination in the workplace and deal with increased barriers to finding and advancing in employment compared to their heterosexual counterparts. And a 2020 Trans PULSE Canada survey report on trans and non-binary Canadians found that less than half of trans respondents were employed full‑time, while 35% were employed part-time.

“While these statistics paint a grim picture of the reality of anti-2SLGBTQI+ sentiments in the workplace, it doesn’t have to be this way. Canada’s unions believe in the power of properly implementing ILO C-190, the newly ratified global standard on harassment and violence at work, as a key part of the puzzle to address discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics in the workplace,” continued Rousseau

Unions applauded the recent news of Canada’s ratification of ILO C-190, a historic global convention to end violence and harassment at work, first introduced in 2019. However, ratification is only the first step toward meaningful change. There needs to be a strong plan for implementation in all jurisdictions, which requires a coordinated effort involving governments, employers and unions.

“As Pride season commences from coast to coast, there is no better time for governments to take action and bring all stakeholders together to end all forms of violence and harassment at work. 2SLGBTQI+ workers deserve to feel safe at work and it’s time Canada take action to make this a reality,” concluded Rousseau.

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Canada’s unions are calling on the federal government to ratify the International Labour Organization’s Convention No. 190 (ILO C-190) and affirm the right to a world of work free from harassment and violence. The government must also implement a federal LGBTQ2S+ action plan that addresses a range of action areas including health care, mental health, poverty reduction, justice reform and international assistance, among others. This should be backed by funding for 2SLGBTQI organizations providing essential services and supporting 2SLGBTQI people across the country.

“Pride season is a time for celebration and support for 2SLGBTQI communities. But racist and anti-gender movements have become increasingly bold, putting human rights and peoples’ lives at risk,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “Whether it be the wave of homophobic and transphobic bills being introduced across the United States, to increased hate crimes against 2SLGBTQI people here in Canada, we are seeing unprecedented and calculated assaults on 2SLGBTQI rights. We are committed to standing in solidarity with 2SLGBTQI folks and calling on our governments to do more to protect everyone’s basic right to live free from harassment and violence.”

2SLGBTQI people also experience other forms of violence and discrimination, which can impact access to health care, housing and employment. Just last month, the CLC and researchers from the University of Western Ontario and the University of Toronto released initial findings from a national survey on workplace harassment and violence in Canada. It found that 73 percent of gender-diverse respondents reported having experienced sexual harassment and violence at work.

“We have some important victories to celebrate this Pride season, like the fact that conversion therapy is now illegal and the end to the discriminatory blood ban. But we remain vigilant and continue to fight for the rights of 2SLGBTQI people,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice‑President of the CLC. “From the ratification of ILO C-190, to improving access and inclusion across all public services, there is still much work to be done.”

Following muted Pride festivities throughout the first two years of the pandemic, this year, there is a shift back towards in-person events. We urge labour councils, local unions and union members to take part and show your support for 2SLGBTQI rights, whether in-person or online.

Together, let’s move #ForwardWithPride.

–

Unions across Canada will be participating and visible in Pride events in their regions. Click here for a full list of Pride events and to find one near you.

Send a tweet to Canada’s Minister of Labour calling on Canada to take action to address violence and harassment at work by ratifying C-190.

Check out the CLC’s Workers in Transition Guide on how to best support trans workers and combat transphobia in the workplace.

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As celebrations across the country are cancelled, rescheduled or shifted to digital platforms in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s unions stand with our 2SLGBTQI members, friends and family to celebrate and fight for those facing homophobic, transphobic and biphobic violence and harassment.

“For decades, Canada’s unions have joined Pride festivities across Canada in solidarity with 2SLGBTQI communities across the country,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “This Pride season will be no different – unions will be there to show our support, no matter how we celebrate. It reminds us that we are a community, even when physical distancing requirements keep us apart.”

With the theme Exist-Persist-Resist, Global Pride 2020 is a political celebration of visibility and civil rights for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex communities. Even as lockdowns remain in place across the country and around the world, Pride festivities can offer much needed spaces for community gatherings, healing, and political engagement.

“The Pride movement arose out of the Stonewall riots, as well as protests against police raids of gay establishments, most notably the Bathhouse Raids in Toronto,” said Rousseau. “This year’s Pride takes place in the context of significant pushback against anti-Black racism and police violence in the US and Canada. Pride has always been political, and this year especially we remember the role that Black and Latinx trans women played in Stonewall. Pride events and calls for change must highlight the interconnectedness of movements struggling against oppression.

“We know that Pride season is an important time to connect, to celebrate and to organize for so many,” said Rousseau. “Yes, this Pride will be different, but it will still be ours. It can still bring us together. And it can still be political. Together we can emerge stronger, more united, and more Proud than ever.”

The CLC encourages labour councils and local unions to get involved in regional Pride events, to show solidarity with the 2SLGBTQI community and the Pride movement in this pandemic.

Show your pride and solidarity by downloading the CLC’s new pride zoom backgrounds.

Stay up to date with COVID-19 Pride festival updates across Canada with Fierté Canada Pride’s tracking tool.

Learn more about Global Pride 2020 here.

Learn more about the demands of nearly 100 2SLGBTQI organizations in Canada in the context of the COVID-19 crisis here.

Read about the specific impacts of COVID-19 on 2SLGBTQI communities in Canada here.

Commit to being a better trans ally in the workplace this Pride season with the CLC’s newest handbook Workers in Transition: A Practical Guide for Union Representatives and Trans Union Members.

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While many us are making sure that we #stayathome, we still need to be aware of the threat of homophobic and transphobic violence that persists online, at home, and for those on the front lines.

“This year, we are taking action online to take a stand, joining people around the world for a #VirtualDayofPink,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “Solidarity is a key strength of our union movement. The #VirtualDayofPink is an opportunity for leaders in the trade union movement, in business and government, as well as everyday people, to stand together against homophobia and transphobia everywhere and in all of its forms.”

Canada’s unions have a role to play in educating and empowering our members so that all workplaces are welcoming and inclusive for all. In the context of COVID-19, our federal government needs to step up to ensure that 2SLGBTQI people are not left behind during and after this pandemic.

Around the world, 2SLGBTQI communities face disproportionately high levels of harassment and violence.

According to research from EGALE Canada, “Approximately 47 per cent of LGB workers (in Canada) have experienced workplace harassment and/or violence based on their sexual attraction (orientation), while approximately 90 per cent of transgender and gender variant employees report experiencing workplace harassment and/or violence stemming from their gender identity and expression.”

“Everyone has a role to play to better protect the rights of 2SLGBTQI people and ensure that they have the support they need in our workplaces, in our unions and in our communities,” said Rousseau “Our federal government must lead efforts with a dedicated gender-based plus analysis of the pandemic’s impacts, and by ensuring that additional emergency funds are available to support 2SLGBTQI organizations and communities to survive this crisis.”

You can mark the International Day of Pink right by:

1. Tagging your union and snapping a photo of you in pink to share online with the hashtag #VirtualDayofPink.
2. Downloading the CLC’s newest resource: Workers in Transition and learn how to be a Trans ally in your workplace today.
3. Read, share and support the demands of over 100 2SLGBTQI organizations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learning more about International Day of Pink and how you can join #VirtualDayofPink here.

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While we are all struggling to make sense of the current crisis, we have to consider the most marginalized among us, who are always facing threats to their safety and security that the rest of us are now experiencing.

Trans folks are among our health care workers, they are re-stocking the shelves in our grocery stores, they are helping to deliver municipal services, all while facing uncertainty about their own access to much needed medications and gender-affirming surgeries. 

Being an ally means ensuring that trans people are not forgotten in our priorities as we look to rebuild after this crisis. 

“Trans people are part of our movement. We all have a role to play to better protect the rights of our trans members and ensure they have the support they need in our workplaces, in our unions and in our communities,” said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress. 

Canada’s Unions are proud to mark the International Transgender Day of Visibility 2020 with the launch of a newly updated resource: Workers in Transition: A Practical Guide for Union Representatives and Trans Union Members. This revised version of the popular handbook includes a refreshed glossary of terms related to trans, Two Spirit and non-binary peoples’ experiences, as well as tools and strategies for workers, union representatives and activists to implement trans-inclusive policies and advocacy in all workplaces in Canada.

The labour movement will be a major part of Canada’s economic recovery, and we have the opportunity now to build awareness of the many barriers facing trans workers, and help trade union leaders, union staff representatives, local executives, committee members and shop stewards become better allies.

You can take action today by downloading your copy of the new Workers in Transition handbook now and becoming a trans ally in your workplace and in your community. 

To learn more about the International Transgender Day of Visibility, click here.

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“Pride season is an important moment to come together and celebrate the victories and visibility of LGBTQ2SI activism in our communities”, said Larry Rousseau, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). “It is also a critical moment to reflect on how tenuous those victories are with the surge of hate messages and attacks on human rights seen globally. Canada’s unions are ready to defend against clawbacks to the gains we’ve made for the rights and freedoms of sexual and gender minorities.”

Canada’s labour movement has an important role to play both domestically and internationally when it comes to protecting the rights of LGBTQ2SI communities. In June, the International Labour Conference concludes negotiations toward a new international labour standard on violence and harassment in the world of work, a clear direction to governments and employers to prevent, remedy and address violence and harassment in the world of work.

“We are working hard to negotiate a comprehensive and inclusive standard that recognizes that some groups of workers, including LGBTQ2SI workers, are disproportionately exposed to and impacted by violence and harassment,” said Marie Clarke Walker, CLC Secretary-Treasurer. “The ILO needs to send a clear message that violence and harassment should never be part of the job,” added Walker.

In Canada, unions have played a crucial role in challenging homophobia and transphobia, and building workplaces and communities that are inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ2SI people and families. The Public Service Alliance of Canada recently launched their ‘Building Trans-Inclusive Workplaces’ online tool kit, which includes materials to support trans workers and their allies in the workplace. The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation has been mobilizing to defend the modernization of the provincial education system with meaningful inclusion of anti-homophobia and anti-transphobia resources and lesson plans. In Ontario, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation are joined by students and activists across all major social justice movements to fight back against a 10 year set-back to the provincial sexual health and gender education curriculum.

“Make no mistake, it is clear that there is a coordinated and ideological attack on the rights of LGBTQ2SI communities in Canada and globally,” said Rousseau. ”This Pride season, I’m proud to be a part of a labour movement that is ready to resist and defend the rights of all of our workers and their families.”

Canada’s unions are leading the push for a national pharmacare plan. LGBTQ2SI people face worse health outcomes because of the compounding impacts of homophobia and transphobia in our health care system and in our society. Access to health care, including medication, is a fundamental human right. For members of the LGBTQ2SI community, that means a universal, single-payer pharmacare plan we can be proud of.

Unions across Canada will be participating and visible in Pride events in their regions. For a full list of Pride event and to find one near you, please click here.

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Summer is the time for Pride events and marches in Canada. But while these celebrations are now somewhat commonplace in many cities across the country, just over 45 years ago a small brave group of people marched on Parliament Hill to demand what was then referred to as “gay rights” in a manifesto entitled “We Demand”.

The labour movement in Canada has been, and continues to be, a strong ally and voice for LGBTQ2SI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, 2-spirited, Intersex) rights and in fighting homophobia and transphobia in Canada – in the workplace and beyond. This includes:

• Hosting committees and working groups to fight against homophobia, transphobia and harassment. Many unions have changed their own constitution to reflect this.
• Negotiating a range of clauses in collective agreements that protect the rights of LGBTQ2SI workers above and beyond the law.
• Bringing to court violations of LGBTQ2SI rights such as individual grievances and provisions such as marriage leave, leaves of absence, spousal benefits, and pensions plan benefits.
• Mobilizing and lobbying to change laws including the Canadian Human Rights Act, equal benefits, employment equity, equal marriage and gender identity and gender expression.
• Collaborating with civil society organizations, within Canada and internationally, to fight for LGBTQ2SI rights through awareness campaigns and active participation in events.

Some of the work being done by unions and the labour movement:

• Canadian Labour Congress
• Public Service Alliance of Canada

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The LGBTQ2SI community can often face more barriers than their straight and cisgender peers in accessing adequate health care. Yet, access to health care – including medication – is a fundamental human right.

“Universal pharmacare is about health equity. Everyone in Canada with a health card – regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation – should have access to the medications they need,” said CLC President Hassan Yussuff.

Roughly one third of working people in Canada don’t have employer-funded prescription drug coverage. Many members of LGBTQ2SI communities face discrimination in the job market, which can restrict their access to meaningful employment with access to comprehensive drug benefits. Even those who do have workplace health benefits can find co-pays or deductibles prohibitive, preventing them from taking necessary medications as prescribed.

“Too many people in Canada must choose between paying for their prescription medications or buying groceries. For the LGBTQ2SI community, the barriers are even greater,” said Yussuff.

HIV prevention treatment, gender-affirming hormones, medication to treat anxiety or depression, and treatments in support of reproductive and sexual health and fertility – just to name a few – can be prohibitively expensive. Lack of access to some of these medications can have disastrous consequences.

“Universal pharmacare would improve the lives of so many by ensuring equal access to prescription medications for everyone. Here at home, Canada is making great strides in ensuring equality for LGBTQ2SI communities, but there is still a lot to be done,” added Yussuff.

The federal government has committed to addressing systemic discrimination experienced by LGBTQ2SI people. Canada’s unions have called on the government to do more, including ending the discriminatory ban on blood donation for all men who have sex with men. It’s past time to end this homophobic and transphobic policy once and for all.

Internationally, Canada has also become more engaged on LGBTQ2SI issues. Later this year, Canada will host Leaving No One Behind: the Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) Global Conference on LGBTI Human Rights and Inclusive Development in Vancouver. Co-chaired by Canada and Chile, the ERC is the first-ever intergovernmental coalition dedicated to the protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people around the world.

To learn more about the CLC’s pharmacare campaign, visit aplanforeveryone.ca.

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