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  2. Act4QueerSafety Open Letter

Act4QueerSafety Open Letter

Alongside over 100 #Act4QueerSafety campaign partners, we have published an open letter inviting the Government of Canada to address rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate.

Open Letter: Government of Canada Must Act on Rising Anti-2SLGBTQIA+ Hate Before It’s Too Late

A PDF version of the letter may be accessed here. 


Dear Right Honourable Prime Minister Trudeau, Honourable Minister Ien, and Members of the Canadian Pride Caucus,

We, the undersigned, represent 2SLGBTQIA+, feminist, labour, social justice, and allied
organizations from across Canada. We are writing today, building on past calls to action from
Egale Canada, the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity, the Enchanté Network and
others, with an urgent call to action for the Government of Canada to address rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate.

Over the past 3 years, we have witnessed a staggering rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate across
Canada. From 2020 to 2021, there was a 64% increase in hate-motivated violence targeting our
communities. We are facing protests targeting drag events and other queer spaces, rising rhetoric
equating queer and trans people with ‘groomers’, pedophiles and child abusers, efforts to roll
back inclusion in our schools and online attacks on 2SLGBTQIA+ community leaders.

2SLGBTQIA+ people are scared - scared that we will be targeted with hate, and scared that hate
will get worse. From coast to coast to coast, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities deserve safer spaces,
enabling environments, and to be treated with dignity and respect. Rising hate threatens the
progress we’ve made and puts in jeopardy the safety, health and well-being of our communities.
After the progress made - legalizing marriage for 2SLGBTQIA+ people, protecting transgender rights, banning conversion therapy and more - we hoped the next generation of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth would grow up in a country that truly accepted and supported them. Without action, that dream will slip away. We’ve made progress as a country, but the breathing room we carved out for the next generation of queer and trans youth is at risk.

Equally, as we witness a global revival in anti-queer movements and concentrated attacks on
queer and trans people in Uganda, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Ghana and our closest neighbours,
America, Canada must not shy away from our role as a champion of human rights at home and
abroad. Anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate is one facet of rising extremism, misinformation and hate.
Together, this extremism constitutes a threat to human rights, inclusive communities and
democracy.

Amidst rising hate, we are sounding the alarm. We are calling on the Government of
Canada to #ActForQueerSafety before it gets worse. Alongside over 100 campaign partners, we
have identified 6 calls to action for the federal government, which you may review at
www.act4queersafety.ca.

People in Canada have long prided ourselves on our inclusivity and commitment to human rights at home and around the world. As we bear witness to a resurgence in anti-queer hate, we must act - and act decisively - to protect queer communities in Canada and around the world.

We hope you will join us in recognizing the urgency of this matter, the ongoing acceleration of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate in Canada, and the need for a whole-of-government response, alongside 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, to address rising hate, protect the progress we’ve made and keep our communities safe.

In Solidarity,

  • Fernie Pride Society
  • No Conversion Canada
  • Advocacy Canada
  • Sexual Health Nova Scotia
  • Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay
  • Oxfam Canada
  • YWCA Canada
  • Protect Our Youth
  • SRHR Hubs
  • Spectrum Waterloo Region's Rainbow Community Space
  • Centretown Community Health Centre
  • Canadian Anti-Hate Network
  • ACT
  • Alliance for Healthier Communities
  • Trans Legal Collective
  • LGBT YouthLine
  • Sheridan Student Union
  • ROBSON VALLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES
  • Cape Breton Transgender Network
  • Quadrangle NL
  • TransParent Okanagan
  • Nelson Pride
  • Kimberley Pride Society
  • Caledon Pride
  • Fierté Canada Pride
  • ANKORS
  • Eating Disorders Nova Scotia
  • Peer Support Canada
  • Canadian Association of Social Workers
  • Positive Living North
  • Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity
  • Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
  • Options For Sexual Health
  • BC Federation of Labour
  • Sex Information and Education Council Canada (SIECCAN)
  • Queer Justice Project / Hamilton Community Legal Clinic
  • Canadian Mental Health Association
  • West Coast LEAF
  • Pride at Work Canada
  • Young Canadians Roundtable on Health
  • JusticeTrans
  • Capital Pride
  • North Bay Pride
  • Pflag Canada York Region
  • Canadian Labour Congress
  • UFCW Canada
  • Community-Based Research Centre
  • Canadian Union of Public Employees
  • Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association
  • Chroma: Pride, Inclusion, Equality, Inc.
  • Diversity Cornwall
  • Society of United Professionals IFPTE 160
  • Planned Parenthood Toronto
  • Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants - OCASI
  • Capital Rainbow Refuge
  • Sault Pride
  • tri-Pride Community Association
  • The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
  • John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights
  • Fierté Sudbury Pride
  • Elizabeth Fry Society Simcoe Muskoka
  • Keepers of the Circle
  • Gender and Social Justice Program at McMaster University
  • Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society
  • The Elizabeth Fry Society of Manitoba Inc.
  • CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women)
  • Lakehead University Student Union
  • Jack.org
  • ANKORS Trans Connect
  • The Enchanté Network
  • Egale Canada
  • LGBT Purge Fund
  • FrancoQueer
  • WILPF Canada Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
  • Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa
  • Fora: Network for Change
  • Ending Violence Association of Canada
  • Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
  • Elizabeth Fry Society of NWO
  • EFry Greater Vancouver
  • The Equal Futures Network
  • Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network
  • Gillian's Place
  • Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
  • Pride PEI
  • Elizabeth Fry Society of Northern Alberta
  • Black Rose Beauty Lounge
  • CUPE Ontario
  • Defend Choice
  • Queer Infrastructure Network
  • Centre for Family Equity
  • Positive Connections
  • Affirming Connections
  • NG Pride
  • Morgane Oger Foundation
  • Choice in Health Clinic
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
  • Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon
  • Stratford-Perth Pride
  • Hamilton Trans Health Coalition
  • The United Church of Canada - Church in Mission
  • Ontario Association of Social Workers

 

 

Latest posts

We're Hiring: Project Coordinator

The Society of Queer Momentum is looking for a part time (10 hours a week or approximately 25% FTE) Project Coordinator at $30 an hour for an 8-month contract (Aug 1, 2025-March 31, 2026) to coordinate project activities as part of the government funded WAGE (“Women & Gender Equality”) project. The deadline to apply is July 14, with an intended start date in early August (which can be adjusted if needed). Reporting to the Executive Director, the Project Coordinator will:

• Coordinate all aspects of in-person & virtual project activities & meetings
• Work with Finance Officer to maintain compliance with project budget
• Ensures appropriate systems and controls are in place for effectively managing risks
• Attends Momentum organization and projects’ meetings and committees as required
• Works closely with the team and other key stakeholders to design and implement project activities
• Ensures regular reporting and feedback on achievement of project and organizational goals
• Recommends and implements strategies for engagement and feedback on project activities
• Fosters mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations, institutions, partners, etc.
• Collaborates and engages with community partners and stakeholders


The position is home-based/remote. No relocation is required. Applicants must have a workspace that protects the privacy of work-related activities including meetings held via Zoom.


Use of a personal computer and reliable internet access are also required, the cost of which will not be paid by Momentum.


Momentum is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from individuals impacted by colonialism, racism, classism, sexism, able-ism, trans-phobia, homophobia, bi-phobia, or other or multiple forms of oppression. Preference will be given to Black, Indigenous, and racialized queer and trans people, as well as qualified candidates with disabilities, who are neuro-diverse, or are new Canadians legally entitled to work in Canada. Self-identification by candidates is completely voluntary.

How to apply:
The deadline to apply for this position is Monday, July 14, 2025. Your application should
include your CV, contact details for two professional references, and a cover letter. Your cover should
explain:
 Why you are interested in the position
 How your experience qualifies you for the role
 Your preferred start date


Applications should be submitted here: https://queermomentum.fillout.com/projectapp

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted to arrange an interview.

Questions may be submitted to [email protected] with “Project
Coordinator Application” in the subject line of the email. 

Applicants are also invited to complete this voluntary Self-Identification form, found here.

Queer Momentum responds to anti-trans policy in Conservative Party of Canada platform

This election is about affordability and standing up to Trump. But when we cast our votes, we aren’t just voting on the economy. We’re voting for our future – and helping inform the kind of Canada we want to be. Canadians overwhelmingly believe in equality and human rights, and want elected officials who uphold those values. We may disagree on the detail, but our values are what unite us and make Canada strong.


That’s why Queer Momentum is shocked and dismayed by the Conservative Party of Canada’s platform commitment to ban transgender women from placement in the corrections facility or prison aligned with their gender identity. This commitment, if enacted, would place transgender women at increased risk of violence and harm in an already-violent criminal justice system.


“This is ludicrous. The Conservative Party of Canada platform only mentions women 4 times – with three of those mentions related to an anti-trans policy pledge. This isn’t what Canadians want or need from our politicians or political parties.” Said Fae Johnstone, Executive Director of Queer Momentum. “This is a Trumpian approach to politics – pitting women against transgender people – instead of advancing concrete measures to address the violence, discrimination and inequality both women and transgender Canadians experience.”


We urge Pierre Poilievre to retract this commitment, and pledge to uphold equality and human rights for 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

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