Chris Little-Gagne PRC Report May 2019

Chris Little-Gagne

GLBT Rep

Prairie Region Council May 2019

 

Nov 1 – 4 PRC Meeting
Nov 8 – LGBT Arm Chair Discussion Canada School of Public Service
Nov 19 – 21 PSAC Childcare Lobby in Ottawa
Dec 3 – 5 PSAC National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) meeting in Ottawa
Jan 9 – PSAC Prairies National Officer Call
Jan 10 – PSAC Prairies Bargaining Webinar
Feb 6 – Meet with PSAC Members in Churchill
Feb 7 – PRC conference call
Feb 26 – PSAC NHRC conference call
Mar 26 – Meet with Prime Minister with other union activists
May 9 – PRC Conference call
May 24 – 26 PRC Meeting
May 25 – Parade/Rally on 1919 Winnipeg Strike 100 year anniversary
May 29 – PSAC NHRC conference call
Jun 2 – Pride Winnipeg

1. PSAC LGBTQ2+ Rep Letter: Activities on the Prairies (April 5, 2019)

Members of our union family,

My name is Chris Little-Gagné and I am your elected LGBTQ2+ Representative on the Prairie Region Council. Below is very important information that can be used to engage with our members and our communities.

May 17th is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.  The 2019 campaign has yet to be announced, so continue to visit www.homophobie.org to get great information or print off posters. This site will help gain tools and activities on diversity and inclusion at your workplace. (Digital information should be available soon.) The past campaigns have been:

2018 : Rights in the world                                    2017 : No matter the gender

2016 : Homophobia affects all ages                    2015 : Allies show their colors

2014 : Homoparentality                                       2013 : Fighting homophobia online

2012 : Diversity at work pays off                         2011 : Same sex couples

2010 : Homophobia in sports                              2008 : Homosexuality is not a disease

2007 : Sexual orientation is not a choice             2006 : Homophobia is hiding

2005 : Presumed heterosexual                            2004 : War against homophobia

2003 : Shocking ? Only for homophobes

As we are currently entering the Pride season, below are the current events. Please let us know what PSAC committees and members are doing to show support. We would love to share photos of local pride events on the PSAC Prairies website. You can let Thomas Linner know at linnert@psac.com

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

I would like to remind everyone of the great PSAC campaigns (Child Care and Pharmacare).  These campaigns do affect the LGBTQ2+ community as well and there could be some great tie-ins and support from the community if approached. Please contact me if you are looking at gaining more information about the Positive Space initiative and how you can bring diversity and inclusion for LGBTQ2+ members to your local/workplace.

I am working with Canadian Virtual Hospice. They are developing online palliative care and grief support tools to meet a variety of needs for LGBTQ2+ patients, partners, families, caregivers, and their care providers across Canada.

They are looking for people in these communities who have had personal experiences navigating the healthcare system when it comes to advanced illness, and who are willing to share their stories or add their voices to help others, through our award-winning online tools.   

They are asking people to share their personal perspectives, experiences and insights as they develop these support tools.  

‎If you are interested in being a part of this project or would simply like some more information, please feel free to get in touch with us at Canadian Virtual Hospice.

2. PSAC LGBTQ2+ Rep Letter: IDAHOT (May 17, 2019)

Dear members of our union family:

On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (May 17th), the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) joins in solidarity with LGBTQ2+ workers to eradicate discrimination. On May 17, 1990, homosexuality was removed from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of mental disorders. In 2003, Fondation Émergence created the first national day against homophobia. You can find more information on Fondation Émergence and the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia here: https://www.fondationemergence.org/la-journee?lang=en

This year’s theme is “Online Violence against LGBTQ2+ people has real life consequences”. Though there has been real progress made, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and two-spirit people continue to face discrimination and harassment at work and in their daily lives – and the growing power of online hate groups is only making matters worse. So we much stay vigilant. 73% of LGBTQ2+ people have been personally attacked or harassed online.

Here in the Prairies we are watching with concern as the new United Conservative Party government in Alberta under Premier Jason Kenney has pledged to undo legislation passed by the previous government to protect Gay/Straight Alliances in schools. There is some good news. In Budget 2019 the federal government committed $20 million over 2 years for community-based initiatives to support LGBTQ2+ people in Canada, and $1.2 million in 2020-21 for the LGBTQ2+ Secretariat. These are positive steps, but more must be done.

That is why last year PSAC launched our campaign to build trans-inclusive workplaces. More information on these initiatives can be found here. http://psacunion.ca/transrights