LGBTTQ Campaigns

Eldercare –  Given the emphasis that is often placed on youth within the gay Community, this can translate into a failure to recognize the existence of older gay men, lesbian and bisexual persons and their partners. This gap in human rights analysis and delivery has serious implications for the elder LGBTTQ experience in social areas such as services, health care and institutions. The Commission has recommended that health care and social service providers receive training to enable them to appropriately address the needs of older gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. They also suggest that residential facilities ensure that LGBTTQ residents are protected from homophobia, and afforded the same rights and recognition of their relationships as other residents. For more information, please see the OHRC paper “A Time for Action.” 

Family Status – Currently, the Ontario Human Rights Code’s definition of family status is under inclusive and has an adverse impact on groups who are in more non-traditional forms of family and care. For example, because of homophobia and transphobia, many LGBT individuals are rejected by their families of origin, and rely on “chosen families” for care and support: however, these important relationships are not generally recognized or protected by the Code. The Ontario Human Rights Commission has recommended, after broad consultation and the release of their report, that the Code should be amended to include a broader range of relationships that is more reflective of current family and caregiving. For more information, please see the OHRC paper “The Cost of Caring” 

Hislop: Canadian Pension Plan Class Action – On March 1, 2007 the Supreme Court ruled that living Class Members will be entitled to payments of their Survivor Pensions from the CPP on an ongoing basis and arrears to at least December 2000. The representative plaintiffs include George Hislop, a well-known gay rights advocate from Toronto. The class members include over 1,000 gay men and lesbians whose same sex partners died in the period between April 17, 1985 and January 1, 1998 and whose deceased partners contributed to the Canada Pension Plan. Despite their partners’ contributions, the class members were denied their survivor’s pensions by the federal government.

The class action is also continuing. For more information, you may contact REKO (416-362-1989 or 1-866-877-0109), or the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development Canada (now Services Canada at 1-800-311-3820 (in Canada) or 1-613-990-2244 (from outside Canada). You can also visit REKO.  

Safe Schools  - OPSEU members know that making schools a safe and inclusive place for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and questioning youth, for children of LGBT people, and for LGBT teachers and school staff is important. Members must lobby schools to adopt proactive and comprehensive discrimination and harassment policies. School and their Boards must also ensure the presence of an inclusive curriculum and positive role models. To learn more about what you can do to the Safe Schools Campaign, please visit Egale’s website.