Issues
Feature Issues
Arts & Culture
To urge continued and strengthened support for the arts and culture sectors, with particular emphasis on the development of queer culture, and its appreciation rather than it being targeted for censorship or prosecution.
Inclusion of ‘Gender Identity’ in the Ontario Human Rights Code
In Ontario, trans people have no explicit legislative human rights protections. Queer Ontario supports the Ontario Trans Human Rights Campaign in calling for the inclusion of ‘gender identity’ in the Ontario Human Rights Code as recognized prohibited grounds against discrimination and harassment.
Poverty/Employment Issues
Address issues of poverty in all its forms and continued workplace discrimination and harassment based on gender identity and sexual orientation with government, human rights commissions, labour boards, labour unions, etc.
Other Issues
In addition to the Feature Issues listed above are a series of other issues below. These additional issues have been identified by Queer Ontario as being of relevance to the province’s queer communities and by no means represents an exhaustive list.
Advocacy & Activism
– The extent to which groups and organizations can engage in advocacy activities depends on their status within the voluntary sector. Regulations on charitable organizations and implications for non-charitable organizations, including queer ones, impact on the activism of both.
Arts & Culture
- To urge continued and strengthened support for the arts and culture sectors, with particular emphasis on the development of queer culture, and its appreciation rather than it being targeted for censorship or prosecution.
Capitalism/Corporate Social Responsibility
- Rethinking and questioning capitalism and the increasingly powerful role of corporations in society and determining means by which capitalism and corporations can function in more socially responsible ways.
Censorship
- That all levels of government recognize the value of queer representation in all art forms and mediums (including pornography) and how this contributes to cultural diversity. To challenge heterosexist and cisgendered notions of obscenity and uphold the principles of free speech and expression.
Corrections
– Queers who come into conflict with the law, will face a correctional system that may leave them particularly vulnerable due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Equitable treatment that meets their needs, protection from harassment, abuse or potential life endangerment is of concern when navigating through the correctional process.
(Dis)Abled Queers
- Ensuring sensitivity and adequate supports of queers living with any form of (dis)ability.
Diverse Relationship Recognition
- Recognition of a diversity of relationships beyond conjugality. Same-sex marriages may be legal, but there are numerous other kinds of relationships that are not privileged with the same recognition and benefits.
Education
- Develop, implement and evaluate equity policies that respect queers, be they students, teachers, administrative staff, parents, etc. to ensure a non-phobic, non-heterosexist safe learning environment free of harassment.
Employment Issues
- Address continued workplace discrimination and harassment based on gender identity and sexual orientation with government, human rights commissions, labour boards, labour unions, etc.
Euthanasia
- Support the legalization of doctor-assisted suicide.
Health Care and Social Services
- Policy development, training of health care and social service professionals, support for research and funding for specialized and mainstream service provision regarding the health care and social service needs of queer people.
Intersexed Issues
- Protecting intrasex babies from surgery until they are of an age in which they can make their own choices.
New Citizens/Immigrants/Refugees
- To better accommodate the numerous and varying needs of queer-identified new citizens, immigrant, refugees by educating relevant judicial and support systems of the specialized needs of these individuals.
Nudists
- Supporting the right of queer and other nudists to congregate, create spaces for naked supportive and social events including prearranged public spaces.
Ontario Human Rights Code
- Hold the Ontario Human Rights Commission accountable for the enforcement and strengthening of the Ontario Human Rights Code. This would include increased public education regarding the former and inclusion of gender identity regarding the latter.
People Living with HIV/AIDS
- Ensure that sufficient funding is provided to maintain and improve AIDS service organizations and research initiatives. To challenge current and ongoing issues such as the criminalization of HIV, stigmatization and disclosure concerns.
Policing
- To maintain a position of monitoring the actions of the police and how they relate to the queer communities to ensure fair and accountable practices.
Poverty
- Addressing the issue of poverty within queer communities and working towards assisting queers to develop to their full potential.
Pride
– Ensuring that in addition to celebrating, pride festivities include a political agenda that serves to advance the issues affecting queer communities and that profit making organizations involved are socially responsible corporations.
Queer Critique of Queer Communities
- A cornerstone of a critical queer liberationist perspective is the ability to question and critique society in general and queer communities in particular, in a challenging yet constructive manner that constantly assesses and reassesses our liberationist values.
Race & Ethnicity
- Acknowledging, sensitizing and addressing the intersectionalities between race, ethnicity and gender identity and sexual orientation.
Religious/Spiritual Queers
- To support queers who hold religious faith or spiritual values their work to be recognized in organized religious institutions.
Research
– Queer studies research is not recognized by the tri-council funding bodies in Canada and numerous other research funders, making it difficult for researchers to undertake queer studies that could benefit queer communities.
Rural Experience
- To support the development and growth of queer communities in rural settings addressing the issues and needs as these communities define them.
Seniors
- Ensuring adequate and sensitive supports are currently being developed and in place for the growing number of aging queers.
Separation of Religion and State
- Urge all levels of government to separate religion from the state to end religious biases and depoliticize religion in the political process.
Sex Laws
- To urge the updating of laws to better reflect queer sex realities and redress various forms of persecution.
Sex Trade Workers
- Recognizing sex trade work (queer and non-queer) as a legitimate form of employment and as such urging that laws reflect this emphasizing protection of the sex trade worker in doing their work.
Transgender Issues
- From inclusion of gender identity in the Ontario Human Rights Code to sensitive access to and provision of sex reassignment surgery, from ID documentation to employment discrimination/opportunities, etc.
Violence
- To work towards ending violence perpetrated against queers socially (all forms of gay bashing) and domestically (partner abuse), by advocating for public education, equitable laws and support services to properly address these issues.
Youth Issues
- The sectors and ministries dealing with education, health and social services recognize and address the unique and particular needs of queer youth. This concern is extended to the queer communities themselves in ensuring youth are better included and accommodated.
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