Open Letter: Solidarity with Indigenous Communities in Winnipeg

Last month, Egale released an open letter in solidarity with the Indigenous people seeking justice for MMIWG2S and peace for the families of four murdered women in Winnipeg.

Fifty Canadian human rights and equity organizations have signed on to the letter, and that number continues to grow.

We join First Nations leaders in calling on the governments of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Canada to honour the demands of Indigenous Peoples protesting for justice in Winnipeg, and the Calls for Justice by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

These governments have an opportunity now to put the rhetoric of justice for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI people into action. Their failure to do so is shameful. We stand in solidarity with the protestors in mourning the tragic losses of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI people and in demanding systemic action to protect their lives.

Read the full statement at egale.ca

Egale Canada’s Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2024 Federal Budget

As part of our ongoing efforts to call on all levels of government to take action to combat the rise in anti-2SLGBTQI hate, Egale has submitted a series of recommendations for the pre-budget consultations in advance of the 2024 federal budget. 

Our recommendations involve urgently completing and implementing the National Action Plan on Combatting Hate, updates to the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan to address fundamental gaps relating to healthcare and mental healthcare access; poverty, housing, and employment; education access; sports inclusion; seniors; criminal law reforms, and enhancing support for LGBTQI human rights in international assistance

Visit egale.ca to view our written submission

Factum to the Ontario Superior Court on Jordan Peterson v. College of Psychologists of Ontario  

In recent years, Canadian author and psychologist Jordan Peterson has spread hateful, misogynistic, and transphobic messages and misinformation on various digital platforms such as Twitter, and on a podcast featured on YouTube.

After receiving complaints, the Ontario College of Psychologists concluded that Jordan Peterson had violated professional standards applicable to psychologists and ordered him to undergo a coaching program. Peterson refused to comply and has since taken the case to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice Divisional Court.

Egale Canada, alongside JusticeTrans, was granted intervenor status and participated in a full-day hearing in June 2023. Egale argued that professional regulatory bodies must be allowed to regulate discriminatory speech by their members.

Visit egale.ca to read more 

Resource Spotlight: Unconscious Bias in the Canadian Workplace

This month’s featured resource is part of the 50 – 30 Challenge, which is an initiative between the Government of Canada, Canadian businesses, and diversity organizations. 

The Unconscious Bias in the Canadian Workplace resource page breaks down how to recognize and address these biases through training, inclusive organizational cultures, promoting diversity in leadership, and ongoing evaluation in order to mitigate the impact of unconscious bias.

Unconscious bias in the Canadian workplace poses a significant challenge to creating diverse and inclusive work environments. Embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive workplace culture will not only benefit employees but also enhance productivity, innovation, and success in the Canadian workforce.

Visit egale.ca to learn more

Pride Season Continues Across Canada

Despite the rise in anti-2SLGBTQI hate that is trying to pull us apart and weaken the fabric of our community, we will not stand by as our rights, freedoms and safety come under threat. We will not let them unravel our Pride.

Now more than ever, we need to stand together. With Pride Season continuing across Canada, be sure to access Egale’s resources including our interactive map to find your local Pride 2023 event, and our Pride safety toolkits for both attendees and organizers. 

Visit egale.ca to access our Pride 2023 resources and learn more

Recruiting Research Participants: Carceral Intersections Project

Dr. Wesley Crichlow of Ontario Tech University, in partnership with Egale Canada, is seeking research participants for the Carceral Intersections project.

This project aims to understand the community re-entry needs of formerly federally incarcerated Black men who have a range of same-gender experiences, including same-gender sex, desires, relationships, identities, who enjoy and love other men, including queer, gay, bisexual, gender-diverse, nonbinary, and trans men.

You qualify for the study if you: identify with the above, are 21 years of age or older, and have been formally federally incarcerated for three or more years.

You will be compensated for your participation.

For more information, please visit: blackgbtqireentry.ca