Open Letter: Government of Canada Must Act on Rising Anti-2SLGBTQIA+ Hate Before It’s Too Late
A PDF version of the letter may be accessed here.
Dear Right Honourable Prime Minister Trudeau, Honourable Minister Ien, and Members of the Canadian Pride Caucus,
We, the undersigned, represent 2SLGBTQIA+, feminist, labour, social justice, and allied
organizations from across Canada. We are writing today, building on past calls to action from
Egale Canada, the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, the Enchanté Network and
others, with an urgent call to action for the Government of Canada to address rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate.
Over the past 3 years, we have witnessed a staggering rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate across
Canada. From 2020 to 2021, there was a 64% increase in hate-motivated violence targeting our
communities. We are facing protests targeting drag events and other queer spaces, rising rhetoric
equating queer and trans people with ‘groomers’, pedophiles and child abusers, efforts to roll
back inclusion in our schools and online attacks on 2SLGBTQIA+ community leaders.
2SLGBTQIA+ people are scared - scared that we will be targeted with hate, and scared that hate
will get worse. From coast to coast to coast, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities deserve safer spaces,
enabling environments, and to be treated with dignity and respect. Rising hate threatens the
progress we’ve made and puts in jeopardy the safety, health and well-being of our communities.
After the progress made - legalizing marriage for 2SLGBTQIA+ people, protecting transgender rights, banning conversion therapy and more - we hoped the next generation of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth would grow up in a country that truly accepted and supported them. Without action, that dream will slip away. We’ve made progress as a country, but the breathing room we carved out for the next generation of queer and trans youth is at risk.
Equally, as we witness a global revival in anti-queer movements and concentrated attacks on
queer and trans people in Uganda, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Ghana and our closest neighbours,
America, Canada must not shy away from our role as a champion of human rights at home and
abroad. Anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate is one facet of rising extremism, misinformation and hate.
Together, this extremism constitutes a threat to human rights, inclusive communities and
democracy.
Amidst rising hate, we are sounding the alarm. We are calling on the Government of
Canada to #ActForQueerSafety before it gets worse. Alongside over 100 campaign partners, we
have identified 6 calls to action for the federal government, which you may review at
www.act4queersafety.ca.
People in Canada have long prided ourselves on our inclusivity and commitment to human rights at home and around the world. As we bear witness to a resurgence in anti-queer hate, we must act - and act decisively - to protect queer communities in Canada and around the world.
We hope you will join us in recognizing the urgency of this matter, the ongoing acceleration of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate in Canada, and the need for a whole-of-government response, alongside 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, to address rising hate, protect the progress we’ve made and keep our communities safe.
In Solidarity,
- Fernie Pride Society
- No Conversion Canada
- Advocacy Canada
- Sexual Health Nova Scotia
- Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay
- Oxfam Canada
- YWCA Canada
- Protect Our Youth
- SRHR Hubs
- Spectrum Waterloo Region's Rainbow Community Space
- Centretown Community Health Centre
- 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
- 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