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Bill C-279, the federal bill that seeks to include ‘gender identity’ as a protected ground in the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms, is up for debate this Friday (June 1st) from 1:30-2:30 pm. All are welcome / encouraged to attend; or, if you cannot attend in person, you can watch the debate live on CPAC: http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&template_id=46&hl=e .
A vote on the Bill’s second reading is expected to take place next week. .
Act Now! .
Please call or write to your Member of Parliament and ask them to support the Bill. A current list of MPs, with a link to their contact information, can be found here: http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx .
If you are unsure of who your MP is, you can find your riding here http://www.elections.ca/scripts/pss/FindED.aspx and search for it in the MP list above. .
We wish you all the best in your politicking (ad)ventures! .
The Queer Ontario Steering Committee .
Feel free to email us at info[at]queerontario.org if you have any further questions, insights, or tips. . .
Queer Ontario is proud to announce its alliance with SlutWalk Toronto, and its work against the victim-blaming and slut-shaming that often accompanies — and follows — acts of sexual harassment and sexual assault. We will be marching in the SlutWalk this Friday, May 25 in a show of solidarity, with messages opposing the misogyny, transphobia, and homophobia that inform acts of sexual and physical violence, and the treatment many victims/survivors receive after-the-fact. .
Marchers are set to meet at 5:oopm at Nathan Phillips Square, making their way up to Queen’s Park, via University Ave., at around 5:30 pm. .
At 6:30 pm, a number of presenters will address the crowd, including: Kim Crosby, Jeff Perera, Tara Atluri, Judy Rebick, Morgan M Page, Michelle Chai, Jules Kirouac, and Jules’ mother, Deborah. .
If you are interested in joining our marching contingent, then meet us at the south-east corner of Nathan Phillip’s square at 5:00 pm (look for the Queer Ontario banner), where we will have some materials to make signs. You can also contact us at info@queerontario.org if you have any questions or would like a run-down of our plan. .
If you are interested in learning more about the SlutWalk, then visit their website at http://www.slutwalktoronto.com .
Their Facebook event page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/275379902539008 .
. Calls for more explicit language and a greater commitment to education and enforcement from the Ministry of Education and Ontario’s School Boards .
TORONTO – Queer Ontario submitted today a series of amendments to Bills 13 & 14 that would strengthen the language of the Bill, foster a greater understanding of equity and inclusivity amongst teachers and staff, and establish clearer guidelines of compliance and accountability in all publicly-funded schools. .
“A longstanding issue in our work around the banning of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) in Catholic schools has been the reluctance of Catholic School Boards to enforce pre-existing policy, coupled with the Ministry’s lack of commitment to enforce its own,” says Queer Ontario Chairperson Nick Mulé. “We have continually contended that the Ontario Government’s existing Policy/Program Memorandum 145 already compels public school boards to support students who wish to form LGBTQ support groups, and that the lack of enforcement on the parts of the Boards and the Ministry of this Policy is at the core of the current struggle over LGBTQ youth wishing to form these valuable support groups.” .
Also included within the submitted amendments is language that explicitly establishes the rights of students to choose the name of the LGBTQ support group they wish to form. “As it currently stands, we feel that the language surrounding Bill Provision 303.1(d) regarding Board support of students wishing to form LGBTQ support groups is unclear,” says Casey Oraa, Queer Ontario Vice-Chair. “Adding ‘as determined by the pupil’ to this provision will ensure that naming rights rest in the hands of the students, as opposed to the school’s Board or staff.” .
Queer Ontario is also calling for the introduction of reporting mechanisms on school climate; the mandating of professional development programs related to anti-bullying and anti-harassment issues; and the inclusion of ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender expression’ as social locations protected by the Bill. .
Queer Ontario’s Deputation on Anti-Bullying Bills 13 and 14 .
. Queer Ontario’s Deputation in Video Form .
. Queer Ontario’s Amendments to Anti-Bullying Bill 13 .
The Pressing Issues Survey
We are still receiving feedback through our Pressing Issues Survey, to get a sense of the issues facing LGBTQ* Ontarians today. A link to the survey can be found here.
The Queer Ontario Think Tank
We are also accepting written and other multimedia works for our ideas space -- the Queer Ontario Think Tank. To read more about it, or to learn how to submit a work, follow the link here.
Queer Ontario is a not-for-profit organization operating on funds provided to us by our generous and capable supporters. Your donation will be channeled directly into our projects and operations, which will help us continue our educational and reformist work.
Unfortunately, because our mandate is deeply political, we cannot acquire charitable status and, as such, will be unable to issue you with a charitable tax receipt. We encourage your support in light of this systemic shortfall.
You can use our one-time donation option as many times as you would like:
Or, you can become a sustaining donor by contributing to Queer Ontario on a monthly basis.
We appreciate your ongoing generosity and support -- The Queer Ontario Steering Committee.
