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.

Contrary to popular belief that most queers are affluent, what is less known and often less visible are the queers gripped by poverty.  From extreme forms of poverty such as homelessness to more subtle forms such as underemployment, queers are at high risk.  Non-supportive, biased or outright discriminatory circumstances (familial or work settings), health status and (dis)ability can marginalize queer people from participating in society to their full potential. 

Studies show that queer youth are disproportionally over represented among the homeless.  There is a segment of the queer community that is ghettoized in minimum or low wage jobs with few benefits if any.  Many in the queer community (trans in particular) need to turn to the sex trade, not by choice, due to their lack of acceptance in conventional work settings. 

Although ‘sexual orientation’ is a ground for protection against discrimination in employment in the Ontario Human Rights Code, this unfortunately does not address systemic homophobia and heterosexism (i.e. poisonous environments, limited opportunities for advancement, etc.)  Federally, ‘sexual orientation’ is not recognized in Employment Equity legislation.  Trans people have not been afforded protections at either the provincial level in Ontario (see trans feature issue) or the federal level.  

Queer Ontario urges the inclusion of ‘gender identity’ in human rights legislation at both the provincial (Ontario) and federal levels.  Further, Employment Equity legislation at the federal level needs to be expanded to include both ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’.  The Ontario Human Rights Commission must play a more visible role in educating the public about systemic discrimination and poverty and how they affect queer populations.  Province-wide equity policies within school boards must ensure a safe, welcoming environment for queer students to undertake and complete their education.  Colleges and universities must provide targeted outreach to develop community initiatives with the queer communities so that the latter do not see these institutions as barriers.  Career counselors, employment counselors and welfare workers must be educated and sensitized to the vulnerabilities and risks queers face in work settings and/or falling into poverty.

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