This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
“We see you and we celebrate with you. Though most of us can’t be together in person this year, we’re with you.” — Bert Blundon, NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer
Ottawa (28 May 2021) — Celebrated annually during the month of June, Pride Month is a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and two-spirit (LGBTQI2S) communities. The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) wishes everyone a safe and happy Pride Month.
“Some LGBTQI2S communities in Canada are facing their second year of virtual Pride events,” said NUPGE President, Larry Brown. “Showing solidarity with the LGBTQI2S members of our circle and in our society is more important than ever before.”
“We see you and we celebrate with you,” said NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer, Bert Blundon. “Though most of us can’t be together in person this year, we’re with you.”
Online celebrations will continue
Though many of us have adapted to meeting virtually, it’s still a blow to not be able to gather in person for community events. That said, there is still much to celebrate. LGBTQI2S communities have shown incredible resilience throughout the pandemic. Organizations like Egale Canada are rolling out campaigns like Pride Inside 2021, which features online events, accessible activities, shareable graphics and more to help people connect and celebrate safely. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) has also issued a statement calling for unionists to support Pride 2021 with calls to action. The CLC will also be compiling a list of online Pride celebrations in Canada on their website.
With the rollout of vaccines to combat COVID-19, some cities are cautiously optimistic about hosting small in-person events. The schedules for most in-person events have not been released, as the situation will need to be evaluated closer to the events.
Fight to end discrimination in Canada continues
Though the focus of the month is pride in one’s self, it’s important to recognize that discrimination against LGBTQI2S people still occurs in Canada. In our story for International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2021, NUPGE highlighted several recent cases of discrimination, including the story of a man who had been fighting for 9 years to access his deceased husband’s pension.
Forbes recently reported that Canada was named the number one safest place to travel for LGBTQ travelers. That’s an honour to be proud of. But we must continue to work on making our society a more equitable place for all members of the LGBTQI2S communities. Prior to the pandemic, many LGBTQI2S individuals were experiencing inequality, particularly people who were part of 2 or more marginalized groups. Until we have true equality for all, we cannot claim to have achieved equality for LGBTQI2S Canadians.