On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, CUPE Ontario and the Pink Triangle Committee stand in solidarity with the trans community, as we honour the memory of those we have lost to violence against people who are trans and gender diverse.
We also recognize those leaders in the labour movement, and in CUPE especially, who are members of the trans community. Your courage helps counter the systemic discrimination and violence suffered by people who are Two-Spirit, trans and non-binary and your leadership acts as a counterpoint to messages of hate and intolerance.
This is also a day to recommit ourselves to the struggle for a world where everyone can live as their true, authentic selves, without fear and free of discrimination.
Tragically, transphobic hate still manifests itself in countless ways. There are people who continue to use transphobia in craven ways that further an agenda that is antithetical to our values as trade unionists.
In Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario, attacks on the rights of trans people continue to provide hateful political distractions. The recent election in New Brunswick was fought in large part on the issue of trans rights and we applaud those who rejected the ongoing targeting of transgender people.
We also acknowledge those CUPE members, particularly those who work with young people in education and social services, who are part of the fightback to defend the rights of youth who are trans and gender diverse. Your resistance is part of the fight for the rights and recognition of trans people.
That fight is ongoing, as transphobes from the alt-right copy the language and policies of the far-right. Too many political leaders are shameless about calling commitment to human rights and dignity “woke obsessions.” They happily scapegoat people who are trans and gender diverse, including trans youth, to appeal to hate-filled factions of their base.
We are proud that, in our union, we continue to advocate for the policies and practices that affirm and promote trans rights. Let the Trans Day of Remembrance be our call to action to create a world where all people, regardless of their gender identity, can live with the dignity the deserve.
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Our union is at the forefront of the allyship that helps make workplaces safer for all people, and that means the inclusion of people who are trans and gender diverse. On November 20, let’s recommit to our responsibility as outspoken allies to stand against transphobia and othering of people who are trans. We can attend a Trans Day of Remembrance events in our community, like those at the 519 community centre in Toronto and we should also use the resources that CUPE has developed to help us protect the right of trans workers:
- Bargaining language in the guide Bargaining Beyond the Binary: A negotiating guide for trans inclusion and gender diversity.
- CUPE’s checklist on bargaining 2SLGBTQI+ rights.
- CUPE’s information leaflet, Allies on Gender Diversity.
- CUPE Union Education course, Safer spaces for Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary workers.
- it’s Got To Be About Safety, CUPE’s report on making public services safer for 2SLGBTQI+ workers and 2SLGBTQI+ older adults.
