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Our History

our history

1986

Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (EGALE) founded by Les McAfee, to advocate for increased rights and recognition and to combat discrimination.

1995

Egan v. Canada: With Egale’s intervention, The Supreme Court of Canada found for the first time that human rights based on sexual orientation are protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

1996

Amendment to the Canadian Human Rights Act adding sexual orientation as a ground for discrimination.

1996

Egale Canada Human Rights Trust is launched and becomes Canada’s national LGBTQI2S charity.

1998

Vriend’s case: Supreme Court decision requiring that all Canadian provinces and territories prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

2002

With Egale’s help, Marc Hall wins rights to Jean-Paul Dumond to Oshawa Catholic High school prom.

2003

Halpern v. Canada: With Egale’s intervention, the Supreme Court of Canada finds the common law definition of marriage violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Michael Leshner and Michael Stark become the first married same sex couple in Canada.

2005

Civil Marriage Act receives royal assent, recognizing equal marriage across Canada.

2011

Egale publishes findings of our first national climate survey on homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in Canadian secondary schools.

2014

Egale Youth OUTReach, offering individual counselling, homelessness and suicide crisis services for LGBTQI2S youth up to age 29.

2016

Egale announces the creation of Egale Centre, Canada’s first dedicated LGBTQI2S youth transitional housing service.

2016

Egale’s Just Society Committee submits The Grossly Indecent Report to the Government of Canada requesting an apology and reparations for the criminal persecution, job loss, ineligibility for pension, and dishonourable discharge from the military following decriminalization in Canada.

2017

Bill C-16 is passed, adding gender expression and gender identity as protected grounds to the Canadian Human Rights Act and also to the Criminal Code.

2017

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers an historic apology on behalf of the Government of Canada for years of state-sponsored, systemic oppression and rejection targeting LGBTQ2 public servants and military personnel.

2018

Egale announces it will undertake the second national climate survey on homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in Canadian secondary schools.

2018

Egale releases the IDENTITY Report following our inaugural national conference, IDENTITY: Canadian Perspectives on LGBTQI2S Inclusion, to bring together the many perspectives on the state of inclusion for our community and chart a path forward together.

2019

Egale launches Speak OUT, a national survey to understand the unique experiences of LGBTQI2S youth with dating violence.

2019

Egale launches a new organization called Friends of Ruby, to oversee its established direct services for youth, including the former Egale Centre and Egale Youth OUTreach.

2019

Egale launches a brand refresh that more closely reflects our people and the communities we serve.

Have Canadian secondary schools become more (or less) LGBTQI2S inclusive in the last decade

3:22 pm by Laura Hui

Egale Canada launches Second National Survey to measure Discrimination toward LGBTQI2S Students.

– Egale is Canada’s national LGBTQI2S organization –
– LGBTQI2S stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and Two Spirit –
– Take the survey today here –

April 4, 2019 (Toronto) – Today, Egale Canada – Canada’s national LGBTQI2S organization – has announced that ten years after a revealing first national school survey which resulted in the Every Class in Every School (2012) report, the organization has partnered once again with Dr. Tracey Peter and Dr. Catherine Taylor to launch a second national survey. The second national survey, now available online, will measure and uncover discrimination faced by LGBTQI2S secondary students across Canada and determine how much more – or less – inclusive Canadian secondary schools are.

“The second national survey is crucial because for the first time we are able to understand how we can better support LGBTQI2S secondary students and educators in creating safer and more inclusive school environments,”said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director at Egale Canada.

The Every Class in Every School report by Egale that followed the initial survey ten years ago, showed significant levels of discrimination directed towards LGBTQI2S youth within the school system across Canada. Among many other statistics, it was found that 74% of trans students and 55% of sexual minority students reported being verbally harassed because of their gender expression compared to 26% of non-LGBTQ students. These results lead Egale to develop a Safer and Accepting Schools program to provide training and support to educators and students, create awareness of the discrimination, and provide students and educators with tools to create safer and more inclusive spaces for LGBTQI2S students.

“The need for research like this is imperative and participation nationwide is essential for the success of this survey,” said Dr. Peter, lead researcher on the second national survey and professor at the University of Manitoba. “There has been a great deal of work done by educators and school officials across the country to improve the situation – we have a responsibility to follow up and ensure that LGBTQI2S students are benefiting from those efforts.”

Egale Canada will be promoting participation in the survey across all of its social media channels. Additionally, several Ministries of Education across the country, individual school boards, and dozens of community organizations have agreed to support in the dissemination of the survey. The survey is accessible and available to all secondary school students on Egale’s website. The survey will be live fromApril 4^th to June 30th, 2019 and the final report with results will be made available to the public by January 2020.

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About Egale Canada
Egale works to improve the lives of LGBTQI2S people in Canada and to enhance the global response to LGBTQI2S issues. Egale achieves this by informing policy, inspiring cultural change and promoting human rights and inclusion through research, education and community engagement. Egale also works to provide the LGBTQI2S community in Canada with access to essential services including counseling through Egale Youth OUTreach and crisis as well as transitional housing through the Egale Centre. Egale’s vision is a Canada, and ultimately a world, without homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and all other forms of oppression so that every person can achieve their full potential, free from hatred and bias.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Jennifer Boyce, Media Relations at Egale Canada
647-404-7156
jboyce@egale.ca

Les écoles secondaires canadiennes sont-elles devenues plus (ou moins) inclusives aux personnes LGBTQI2S au cours de la dernière décennie?

Egale Canada lance sa deuxième enquête nationale visant à mesurer le niveau de discrimination auquel font face les élèves LGBTQI2S.

– Egale est l’organisme LGBTQI2S national du Canada –
– LGBTQI2S signifie lesbienne, gai, bisexuel, trans, queer (ou allosexuel), intersexe et bispirituel –
– Répondez au sondage aujourd’hui en cliquant ici –

Toronto le 4 avril 2019 – Aujourd’hui, Egale Canada, l’organisme LGBTQI2S canadien d’envergure national, a annoncé que dix ans après une première enquête scolaire révélatrice ayant donné comme résultat le rapport Chaque classe dans chaque école, en 2012, l’organisme a, une fois de plus, fait appel aux D^res Tracey Peter et Catherine Taylor afin de lancer une deuxième enquête nationale. La deuxième enquête nationale, maintenant disponible en ligne, évaluera et détectera la discrimination à laquelle font face les élèves du secondaire LGBTQI2S canadiens et déterminera à quel point les écoles secondaires canadiennes sont plus ou moins inclusives.

« La deuxième enquête nationale est essentielle, car lors de la première, nous avons été en mesure de comprendre la manière de mieux soutenir les élèves LGBTQI2S du secondaire et les éducateurs dans la création d’environnements scolaires plus sécuritaires et inclusifs », a déclaré Helen Kennedy, directrice générale d’Egale Canada.

Le rapport Chaque classe dans chaque école d’Egale ayant suivi la première enquête il y a dix ans, ont dévoilé d’importants niveaux de discrimination orientés vers les jeunes LGBTQI2S fréquentant le système scolaire canadien. Parmi plusieurs autres statistiques, il a été découvert que 74 % des élèves trans et que 55 % des élèves issus d’une minorité sexuelle ont rapporté avoir été victime de harcèlement verbalen raison de leur expression de genre comparativement à 26 % des élèves non LGBTA. Ces résultats ont mené Egale à développer le programme Des écoles sécuritaires et tolérantes afin de fournir une formation et un soutien aux éducateurs et aux élèves, de sensibiliser la population à la discrimination et de fournir aux élèves et aux éducateurs des outils leur permettant de créer des espaces plus sûrs et inclusifs pour les élèves LGBTQI2S.

« La nécessité d’une enquête de ce type est primordiale et une participation pancanadienne est essentielle au succès de l’enquête. » a déclaré la D^re Peter, la chercheuse principale de la deuxième enquête et professeure à l’Université du Manitoba. « Un travail titanesque a été effectué par les éducateurs et les responsables scolaires à travers le pays afin d’améliorer la situation; nous avons maintenant la responsabilité d’effectuer un suivi et de nous assurer que les élèves LGBTQI2S profitent de ces efforts. »

Egale Canada promouvra la participation à cette enquête sur toutes ses plateformes de médias sociaux. De plus, plusieurs ministères de l’Éducation, conseils d’administration scolaires individuels et dizaines d’organismes communautaires au pays ont accepté de soutenir la diffusion de l’enquête. L’enquête est disponible et accessible à tous les élèves du secondaire sur le site Web d’Egale.

L’enquête sera en ligne du 4 avril au 30 juin 2019, et le rapport final contenant les résultats sera rendu public avant janvier 2020.

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À propos d’Egale Canada
Egale œuvre à améliorer la qualité de vie des Canadiens LGBTQI2S et à accroître la réponse mondiale face aux préoccupations LGBTQI2S. Egale y parvient en élaborant des politiques, en inspirant un changement culturel et en promouvant les droits de la personne et l’inclusion par la recherche, l’éducation et l’engagement communautaire. Elle travaille également dans le but de fournir à la communauté LGBTQI2S canadienne un accès aux services essentiels, y compris des services d’aide par l’entremise du service Egale Youth OUTreach et de services de gestion de crise, en plus de logements de transition, par l’entremise du Centre Egale. La mission d’Egale est de voir un Canada, et ultimement un monde, dépourvu d’homophobie, de biphobie, de transphobie ou de toute autre forme d’oppression dans lequel chacun puisse réaliser son plein potentiel et être libéré de la haine et des préjugés.

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Pour plus d’informations ou pour demander une interview, veuillez contacter:

Jennifer Boyce, Relations avec les médias, Egale Canada
647-404-7156
jboyce@egale.ca

Egale’s Submission to the UN Committee Against Torture (UN CAT) for Intersex Rights

12:21 pm by Laura Hui

Report to the UN Committee Against Torture-Submission

Report to the UN Committee Against Torture

October 11, 2018

1. This report is submitted by Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, Canada’s only national charity promoting LGBTQi2S human rights through research, education and community engagement. Egale works to improve the lives of LGBTQI2S (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Two Spirit) people in Canada and to enhance the global response to LGBTQI2S issues. Egale achieves this by informing policy, inspiring cultural change and promoting human rights and inclusion through research, education and community engagement. Egale also works to provide the LGBTQI2S community in Canada with access to essential services including counseling through Egale Youth OUTreach and transitional housing through the Egale Centre. Egale’s vision is a Canada, and ultimately a world, without homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and all other forms of oppression so that every person can achieve their full potential, free from hatred and bias.

2. Section 268(1) of the Canadian Criminal Code outlines crimes of aggravated assault. Per Section 268(3) of the code, “wounds” or “maims” includes to excise, infibulate or mutilate, in whole or in part, the labia majora, labia minora or clitoris of a person”1 is also penalized as aggravated assault except when a “surgical procedure is performed, by a person duly qualified by provincial law to practise medicine, for the benefit of the physical health of the person or for the purpose of that person having normal reproductive functions or normal sexual appearance or function…”2 Essentially, Section 268 (3)(a) of the code permits non consensual, medically unnecessary surgeries on reproductive organs on bodies of infants and children perceived to be ambiguous, i.e. intersex or, in current medical discourse, to have a “disorder of sex development”. The existing law deprives intersex children from criminal protections against pathologization of their bodies, instead sanctions normalizing surgical interventions based on cis-normative assumptions about medically “correct” or “normal” bodies.

3. “Medical practice on intersex has [include] photography, frequent examinations, exposure to medical grand rounds where medical professionals would present the pre-op and post-op person’s genitals in front of groups of residents, disregarding the child’s presence and

1 Section 268 (3) For greater certainty, in this section, “wounds” or “maims” includes to excise, infibulate or mutilate, in whole or in part, the labia majora, labia minora or clitoris of a person, except where:
2 Section 268 (3) (a) a surgical procedure is performed, by a person duly qualified by provincial law to practise medicine, for the benefit of the physical health of the person or for the purpose of that person having normal reproductive functions or normal sexual appearance or function;

referring to the genitals as «it», use of children as human research subjects,
clitoridectomies, clitoral recessions or clitoral reductions, hypospadias «repair», the
creation of or deepening of vaginal cavities, the regular insertion of vagina dilatators on
children or adolescents, gonadal removal or sterilization, the prescription of high doses of
hormones, prescription of dexamethasone to persons carrying a foetus diagnosed with
CAH, post-surgery sensitivity testing on children, pathological discourse, screening for
certain types of intersex variations and sometimes suggesting selective abortion,
discounting of knowledge and expertise, as well as tone policing.”3

4. Egale organised Canada’s first Intersex conference bringing together academics,
researchers, intersex children, youth and parents with objectives of fostering a dialogue to
identify the needs of the intersex community in Canada. Conference attendees especially
stressed on a significant intersection between the intersex and disability community, in that
the ableist notions define qualifications for a “normal” or “desirable” human body. This is
also reflected in the ways in which practitioners, whether in social work, genetics
counselling, pediatric surgery and/or endocrinology view intersex and lead parents toward
normative interventions either to prevent intersex altogether through the use of preimplantation
testing, or to prevent some forms of intersex features from developing
(through the use of prenatally administered dexamethasone), or finally and persistently, to
advise surgical “correction” of those who are still apprehended in infancy or childhood
with an intersexualized difference. Moreover, with over 30-80% of intersex children
undergoing one or as may as five irreversible surgeries4, intersex individuals suffer from
life-long physical and psychological pain amounting to torture or cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment under The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Hereinafter referred to as UNCAT).

5. In 2013, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment (Hereinafter referred to as Special Rapporteur) grounds abuses arising in
healthcare settings within the normative legal framework of torture, emphasizing that any
involuntary medical interventions undertaken without a therapeutic purpose and free and
informed consent of the individual in question meets the standards of torture and illtreatment.
5 The concept of free and informed consent garners particular importance in the
said case. While implicating rights relating to freedom from torture, the principle also
forms the cornerstone of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of physical and mental health,6 thus fundamental in ensuring individual’s

3 Bastien Charlebois, J. (2015). «Sanctioned Sex/ualities : The Medical Treatment of Intersex Bodies and Voices».
Sanctioned sexualities panel. ILGA World Congress. Mexico. URL < http://ilga.org/an-introduction-to-sanctionedsexualities- the-medical-treatment-of-intersex-bodies-and-voices/>
4 Holmes, M., & Hunt, R. (2011). Intersex Health. Retrieved from Rainbow Health Ontario website:
https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/wpcontent/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2011/08/RHO_FactSheet_INTER
SEXHEALT H_E.pdf
5 Report of the Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan E. Mendez, UN Doc. A/HRC/22/53 (2013), available at
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session22/A.HRC.22.53_English.pdf
6 Article 12 of The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

autonomy, self-determination and human dignity. Jurisprudentially, these principles are the
founding basis of normative human rights legal system at large. When non consensual
surgeries are performed on intersex infants, not only is there clear absence of free and
informed consent but children are completely deprived of any capacity to make any future
decisions about their own bodies, given the irreversible consequences of these procedures.
In the same vein, free and informed consent is also compromised in the doctor-parent
relationship due to power imbalances, owing to unequal knowledge levels and limited
awareness of intersex bodies. As a result, these decisions are mostly taken by medical
practitioners solely on the basis of medicalised and cis-normative understanding of gender
often disguised as “medical necessity”.

6. Freedom from torture assumes the status of customary international law, a non derogable
right under international law scheme. The law establishes a positive obligation of the state
to “prohibit, prevent and redress torture and ill-treatment in all contexts of custody or
control, for example, in prisons, hospitals, schools, institutions that engage in the care of
children, the aged, the mentally ill or disabled… and other institutions as well as contexts
where the failure of the State to intervene encourages and enhances the danger of privately
inflicted harm.”7 Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur also “call[ed] upon all States to
repeal any law allowing intrusive and irreversible treatments, including forced genital
normalizing surgery, involuntary sterilization, unethical experimentation, medical display,
‘reparative therapies’ or ‘conversion therapies’, when enforced or administered without
the free and informed consent of the person concerned.8 (A recommendation also reiterated
by other treaty bodies.) Despite being a signatory to the convention and numerous requests
by civil society urging for repeal of section 268(3), Canada has not taken any steps towards
the recommended amendment neither any legislative action has been proposed to prohibit
non consensual surgeries on intersex children. Canada, thus stands in critical violation of
its treaty obligations, the severity of which is compounded by the fact that the violation is
that of a jus cogen norm.

7. Canada has displayed a total disregard for international human rights law by failing
to take necessary steps towards the repeal of Section 268(3). We thus ask the
committee to hold Canada accountable for its failure of compliance and urge Canada to:
 Investigate cases of intersex genital mutilation and other medical malpractices pertaining to non consensual, cosmetic surgeries on intersex children;
 Follow best practices with regard to providing free and informed consent, in compliance with its treaty body obligations;
 Make necessary amendments to the criminal code adopt legal provisions to redress and compensate victims.

7 UN CAT General Comment No.2 Para 15.
8 Supra Note 5.

Egale’s Submission to the UN Committee Against Torture (UN CAT) for Intersex Rights

12:21 pm by Jen Boyce

Report to the UN Committee Against Torture-Submission

Report to the UN Committee Against Torture

October 11, 2018

7 UN CAT General Comment No.2 Para 15.
8 Supra Note 5.

2018 International Day of Older Persons

7:00 am by Jen Boyce

Egale Canada and The 519 Call for Immediate Action and a Commitment to Improve the lives of Older and Ageing LGBTQI2S People in Canada

Older-LGBTQI-People-CTA_Press-Release_Egale-The-519

Toronto (October 1, 2018) – Today, on International Day of Older Persons, Egale and The 519 are coming together to mark the occasion by shedding light on the unique issues impacting LGBTQI2S seniors across Canada. More than that, Egale and The 519 are using the occasion to host a Call To Action signing ceremony in the Ballroom at The 519 to encourage the Canadian government, as well as others, to recognize the needs and hear the voices of older and ageing LGBTQI2S people. By signing the International Older LGBTQI People Call to Action, developed by Egale alongside the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) and SAGE USA, governments and industry leaders will be pledging to acknowledge that we can do more and we can do better to support older and ageing LGBTQI2S people in Canada.

There is no doubt that throughout Canada we recognize older and ageing people as being marginalized – older and ageing people face issues of abuse, homelessness and poverty among other challenges. It is less often that we focus on the additional unique issues and barriers impacting older and ageing LGBTQI2S people. Due to a lifetime of experiencing different forms of oppressions including homophobia, heterosexism, transphobia, biphobia, sexism, racism, and ageism, older LGBTQI2S people are less likely than heterosexual and/or cisgender (non-trans) peers to access support from non-LGBTQI2S health service providers, and other types of social support programs.

“Today, generations of 2SLGBTQIA communities and allies gather to celebrate International Day of Older Persons in honour of queer histories of struggle and liberation, and to affirm gender and sexual diversity,” says Kate Hazell, Coordinator of Seniors Programs at The 519. “The lives of 2SLGBTQIA older adults have been subject to erasure and are not well represented within general older adult programming and supports. Let’s change that, together.”

The most notable challenges faced by older LGBTQI2S people are revealed in Egale’s National LGBTQI2S Seniors Community Consultation which was led by Egale’s National Seniors Advisory Council (NSAC). In the community consultation, it was found that over half of senior respondents and two-thirds of service providers agreed the top issue with the largest perceived impact on older LGBTQI2S people is the fear of being re-closeted in residential care. Other priority issues raised by older LGBTQI2S people included barriers to making end-of-life decisions; having a limited legal and medical definition of “family”; and connecting with residential care staff who are open about their own identities.

“Every day we witness the struggles of our ageing 2SLGBTQI peers and as representatives of these communities, it’s incredibly important to us that the voices of all older 2SLGBTQI people in Canada are heard,” said LeZlie Lee Kam and Robert Nelder, NSAC members. “In order to begin to see real change for older 2SLGBTQI people, it is imperative that we are collectively included in the decision-making process – it cannot be about us without us.”

The concerns raised by service providers and allies who work with older and ageing people also reflected a need for change and included: the institutional impacts of homophobia, biphobia, lesbophobia, and transphobia; a lack of designated spaces for trans and Two Spirit seniors; difficulty accessing knowledgeable and accepting health services; and discriminatory intake and sign up forms. These were considered to be top issues impacting the wellbeing of LGBTQI2S seniors in Canada.

“Older LGBTQI2S people in Canada are even further marginalized than their non-LGBTQI2S peers, and in addition to facing all of the same issues, must deal with the many unique challenges that come with ageing as an LGBTQI2S person,” said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director at Egale Canada. “On International Day of Older Persons, we are calling on all levels of government to step up and pledge to do better in our efforts to support older LGBTQI2S people.”

The International Older LGBTQI People Call to Action was developed as way to give a voice to older LGBTQI2S people. By signing the pledge, organizations, governments and long-term care providers are agreeing to prioritize the needs of older and ageing LGBTQI2S people as well as provide them with the necessary supports and resources by implementing policies, programs, and services that protect their rights.

The pledge emphasizes among other things, the need to recognize the full enjoyment of all human rights of older LGBTQI persons without any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, diverse bodies, sex characteristics, and HIV status. It also outlines the necessity of pursuing collaboration with agencies and organizations that serve and address the needs of communities that intersect with the older LGBTQI person population.

About Egale Canada

Egale Canada works to improve the lives of LGBTQI2S (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and Two Spirit) people in Canada and to enhance the global response to LGBTQI2S issues. Egale achieves this by informing policy, inspiring cultural change and promoting human rights and inclusion through research, education and community engagement. Egale also works to provide the LGBTQI2S community in Canada with access to essential services including counseling through Egale Youth OUTreach and crisis as well as transitional housing through the Egale Centre. Egale’s vision is a Canada, and ultimately a world, without homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and all other forms of oppression so that every person can achieve their full potential, free from hatred and bias.

About NSAC

Egale’s National Seniors Advisory Council (NSAC) is a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and Two Spirit older and ageing people and allies from across Canada working to improve the quality of life of older LGBTQI2S people. The council oversees the Community Engagement Consult for LGBTQI2S seniors and holds the organization accountable to the diversity of the LGBTQI2S community. By fostering nationwide partnerships, NSAC provides opportunities for Egale to identify and support on-the-ground work of local organizations across Canada.

About The 519

The 519 is a City of Toronto agency, a registered charity and an LGBTQ2S community centre with an innovative model of Service, Space and Leadership. We are committed to the health, happiness and full participation of LGBTQ2S communities in Toronto and beyond through our programs, services, capacity-building initiatives and advocacy.

Stay connected on the latest news and updates:

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For more information on the event or to request an interview, please contact:
Jennifer Boyce
Media Relations, Egale Canada
1 647 404 7156
jboyce@egale.ca
Curran Stikuts
Senior Consultant, The 519
1 416 355 4012
CStikuts@The519.org

Presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Policy: Points of Consideration for Bill 132

12:48 pm by Laura Hui

Bill-132-Presentation-to-Standing-Committee

Objectives

1. To highlight the alarming prevalence of sexual violence and domestic and intimate partner violence (D/IPV) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) communities in comparison to non-LGB populations;

2. To highlight the heightened risk of experiencing sexual violence and D/IPV among trans and Two Spirit communities, emphasizing the importance of including gender identity and expression as reasons individuals may be targeted;

3. To highlight the increased risk of sexual violence and D/IPV for those with intersecting identities, in particular Two Spirit women and trans women of colour.

4. To highlight disproportionate ways lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and Two Spirit (LGBTQ2S) communities are impacted by sexual violence and D/IPV due to systemic oppression and discrimination;

5. To highlight the need for LGBTQ2S – anti-racist, anti-oppressive (ARAO) inclusivity training among first responders and helping professionals to allow for the appropriate support of individuals who have experienced or are experiencing sexual violence and D/IPV;

6. To highlight the need for visibility and expanded access to support services for survivors from LGBTQ2S communities impacted by sexual violence and D/IPV; and

7. To highlight the importance of ensuring LGBTQ2S-ARAO inclusion within policies and procedures which speak to sexual violence and D/IPV prevention and intervention.

Values and Approach

Egale’s work is grounded in anti-racism, anti-oppression (ARAO) practice. While striving to compile, produce and communicate the best-available evidence to guide our work, we recognize that the production of knowledge is always intimately connected to power, privilege and oppression. Those with the least power and privilege are often not included in the production of knowledge, and as a result, fail to be represented in the knowledge that influences their lives. Often, it is those with the least power to produce and shape knowledge who are most in need of services, leaving them un/mis-represented, under-served, ill-served, or not served at all. To honour and address the experiences of the most marginal folks in our communities, Egale undertakes to balance both academic and experiential knowledge, privileging community-based participatory practices in conducting research; developing and reviewing policy, resources and curricula; and providing services to clients, community organizations and individuals. Furthermore, Egale recognizes the necessity of targeting intersectional oppression, while simultaneously examining the broader social contexts that sustain and legitimize various oppressions, in order to appropriately respond to the needs and experiences of the full diversity of LGBTQ communities.

In support of our mission and vision, Egale leads numerous national projects:

Safer and Accepting Spaces: Empowering students, parents and educators to form peer networks and establish LGBTQ safer spaces in schools, Egale has delivered professional development workshops to over 10,000 teachers and educators. Egale’s programs and services also extend LGBTQ2S inclusiveness and acceptance to corporate, law enforcement, community and sports environments.
LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention: Egale has twice hosted Canada’s LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention Summit (2012, 2014), gathering experts and community members from across North America to talk about LGBTQ youth suicide, to share best practices and to advance strategies for the creation and implementation of concrete recommendations.
Expert Consultation and Policy Review: For nearly 30 years, Egale has engaged in policy review, consultation and development for external partners and clients, such as school boards, employers, legislators and public policy makers, both in Canada and abroad. Most recently, Egale provided testimony to the Ontario legislature regarding Bill 77, an Act to amend the Health Insurance Act and the Regulated Health Professions Act (1991) regarding efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity.
Egale Youth Housing: LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the homeless population, with over 20% of youth experiencing homelessness identifying as LGBTQ, compared to 3.5% of the general population (Homeless Hub, 2015). Family rejection, violence, social inequities, ostracism and discrimination are some major factors that lead LGBTQ youth into experiences of homelessness. In addition, many LGBTQ youth report feeling unsafe or being re-victimized in the current shelter system, and receiving inappropriate and unhelpful suicide crisis and mental health crisis support in health institutions. Egale operates a counselling, crisis intervention and housing support centre for LGBTQ youth, Egale Youth OUTreach (EYO), in order to help youth navigate these challenges and receive timely and positive mental health support. Approximately 45% of our clients identify as transgender or gender variant. EYO currently has 3 counsellors and 2 peer resource workers and has provided individual counselling to over 150 youth as well as provided a wide range of services to between 15 and 30 drop-in participants daily. The lessons that Egale has learned from the crisis intervention and housing stabilization program have helped shape the core of the Egale Centre approach, design and operating plan.

Empirical Evidence

Objective One: To highlight the alarming prevalence of sexual violence and domestic and intimate partner violence (D/IPV) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) communities in comparison to ‘normative’ (non-LGB) populations.

Evidence from the large-scale Association of American Universities’ Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct (2015) suggests that LGBTQ students experience the most violent forms of campus-based sexual violence in comparison to non-LGBTQ counterparts.
While prevalence differs widely within the literature, several investigations estimate that nearly 50% of all same-sex relationships involve some degree of D/IPV (Parry & O’Neal, 2015).
Lifetime prevalence of D/IPV is significantly higher among bisexual women (61%) when compared to lesbian (43.8%) and heterosexual women (35%; Walters, Chen, & Breiding, 2013).
Men in same-sex relationships are as likely to experience D/IPV as heterosexual women and are three times more likely than men who experience D/IPV in a heterosexual relationship (Houston & McKirnan, 2007).
Approximately 47% of LGB workers have experienced workplace harassment and/or violence based on their sexual attraction (orientation) (Catalyst, 2015).

Objective Two: To highlight the heightened risk of experiencing sexual violence and D/IPV among trans and Two Spirit communities.

Transgender and gender variant communities are at increased risk of experiencing all forms of violence and harassment on campus (Metrac, 2014).
A 2011 joint analysis conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in the U.S concluded that approximately 19% of trans and gender non-conforming respondents had experienced D/IPV (Grant, Mottet, & Tanis, 2011).
Transgender women are more likely to experience physical violence and discrimination within an intimate relationship, and more likely to experience police violence when interacting with the authorities following an incident (National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 2014).
Approximately 90% of transgender and gender variant employees report experiencing workplace harassment and/or violence stemming from their gender identity and expression (Catalyst, 2015).

Objective Three: To highlight the increased risk of sexual violence and D/IPV for those with intersecting identities, in particular Two Spirit women and trans women of colour.

Risk of violence and discrimination increases within LGBTQ2S populations who experience multiple oppressions; transgender people of colour, young LGBTQ2S survivors, and aboriginal women are approximately 2.6 times more likely to experience a form of violence and discrimination within an intimate relationship (National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 2014).
Risk of sexual violence is heightened among women with different abilities (Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research, 2011) and Aboriginal women (Brennan, 2011).
Men who are HIV positive are at least 50% more likely to experience same-sex D/IPV (Jackson Heintz & Melendez, 2006).

Objective Four: To highlight the disproportionate ways LGBTQ2S communities are impacted by D/IPV due to systemic oppression and discrimination, emphasizing the importance of including gender identity and expression as reasons individuals may be targeted.

LGBTQ2S individuals encounter discrimination, stigmatization, and traumatic experiences at disproportionately higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. These experiences are motivated by intolerance, fear or hatred of the person’s diversity in attraction and/or gender identity in every social context: homes, schools, communities, religious and spiritual centres, public spaces, and health institutions.
LGBTQ2S survivors of sexual violence and D/IPV are less likely to report incidents to the authorities or access D/IPV shelters and support services than cisgender and heterosexual survivors. Barriers to help-seeking include an extreme lack of appropriate helping agencies and services (Ard & Makadon, 2011), prevailing stigmatization, and limited understanding of D/IPV within LGBTQ2S communities (Calton, Bennett Cattaneo, & Gebhard, 2015).
LGBTQ2S employees are less likely to report incidents of workplace harassment and/or violence due to lack of appropriate policies and procedures (Catalyst, 2015).

Strategy Recommendations

The considerable research evidence points to an urgent need to address the disproportionate rates of sexual violence and D/IPV and barriers to help-seeking within LGBTQ2S communities in Ontario.

Improving support to LGBTQ2S survivors of sexual violence and D/IPV involves a dedication to inclusivity and diversity at all stages and within all activities of the strategic process. Ways to ensure appropriate support for LGBTQ2S communities are outlined in the subsequent section. We hope the Standing Committee on Social Policy will consider the following recommendations:

1. Capacity Building:

Providing LGBTQ2S and ARAO-specific training for professionals involved in sexual violence and D/IPV prevention and intervention efforts of domestic or intimate partner violence survivors, specific to LGBTQ2S identities and needs.

Objective Five: To highlight the need for LGBTQ2S – anti-racist, anti-oppressive (ARAO) inclusivity training among first responders and helping professionals to allow for the appropriate support of individuals who have experienced or are experiencing sexual violence and D/IPV.

Sexual violence and D/IPV response services under-recognize those outside of a cisgender, heterosexual relationship. As a result lesbian and bisexual women, trans women, and Two Spirit women (as well as gay, trans and Two Spirit men) are often not reporting sexual violence and/or D/IPV, or are facing discrimination and further trauma by doing so.
Homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia on the part of service providers may result in the denial of access to services, victim blaming, and the devaluing of legitimate violence, as well as denial of access to social supports such as anti-violence programs, and shelters. Such help-seeking barriers increase the risk to survivor safety and often exacerbate the impact of trauma.
Discrimination within help-seeking is even more difficult for trans survivors of sexual violence and D/IPV who are often denied access to support services or denied police support as a result of their birth assigned sex, or perceived birth assigned sex, rather than their gender identity.
Professionals working in anti-violence efforts, including those who identify as LGB, require specialized transgender, gender variant, Two Spirit, and ARAO training to provide sensitive care that meets individual needs and mitigates risk.
Training should also include the spectrum of gender identity categories beyond the gender binary (genderqueer, agender, gender fluid, etc.).
Within incidents involving D/IPV reporting, misarrests, defined as the mistaken arrest of the survivor and not the abusive partner, is a common reality within LGBTQ2S communities. Training that pertains to same-sex, same-gender, and transgender or gender variant D/IPV are required to increase awareness of these situations and improve support for these demographics.
Training related to gender identity, expression, and sexual attraction (orientation) should be provided to all workplace administration and new employees. Refresher training should be regularly provided to all staff.
All of the preceding challenges are exacerbated within smaller communities and/or in communities with less exposure to, and experience with, sexual violence and D/IPV within same-gender/same-sex couples, transgender, gender variant and Two Spirit communities.

2. Increasing Visibility and Support

To heighten the visibility of LGBTQ2S communities, specifically transgender women of colour and Two Spirit women, given their increased need for sexual violence and D/IPV support.

Objective Six: To highlight the need for visibility and expanded access to support services for survivors from LGBTQ2S communities impacted by sexual violence and D/IPV.

While LGBTQ2S and racialized people are at greater risk of experiencing violence and discrimination, it is not their identities that are the cause of this risk. Rather, it is individual, institutional, and systemic forms of discrimination and oppression that contribute to elevated levels of risk, and that must be addressed by society as a whole.
All strategic recommendations must include identity specific experiences of LGBTQ2S communities particular to sexual violence and D/IPV. This is particularly true of transgender and Two Spirit people.
Specific barriers facing transgender individuals in addressing violence in their lives include (but are not limited to):
- Historical and current systemic discrimination including homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, and colonialism;
Historical pathologization of transgender persons;
Pervasive societal cisnormativity;
Difficulty finding trans-inclusive, anti-oppressive shelters, transitional housing, or other intervention services;
Increased fear of experiencing further trauma as a result of seeking support services that are unable to respect and accommodate their gender identity. This may include misgendering and asking potentially inappropriate and/or harmful questions related to body or gender identity;
Heightened fear of reporting violence due to risk of potential transphobia amongst police officers, fear of being mistaken as the abuser, fear of triggering past trauma related to transphobic incidents with the police or intervention services;
Fear of having gender identity (and/or attraction) disclosed by an abuser as retaliation for reporting. Being ‘outed’ could result in detriment to social networks, familial support, and housing and/or employment stability and lead to an increased risk of transphobic violence;
Fear of losing financial security, particularly for gender-affirming medical care and procedures; and
Fear of losing employment due to transphobia within the workplace.
Two Spirit people remain an under-acknowledged, under-represented and under-served demographic in Canada. Yet, due to the heightened risks associated with each of their intersecting identities, it can be assumed that Two Spirit individuals experience disproportionate levels of relationship-based violence.
With a glaring absence in research, the best one can do is an analysis related to each intersecting identity which may be experienced by any one individual, and extrapolate some truth about the heightened risk experienced by this demographic.
Aboriginal women face higher rates of increased domestic violence, including sexual assault, than non-aboriginal women.
This is then compounded by the higher rates of increased intimate partner violence experienced by those who identity as lesbian or bisexual.
Two spirit women who identify as transgender will also face the heightened risk factors associated with discrimination against transgender people, which is again increased as a trans woman of colour.
Take for example a two spirit, lesbian trans woman. As a result of her intersecting experiences of discrimination and oppression, she is likely to experience the increased risks associated with each level of her identity:
- Aboriginal: 2.5x higher risk than non-aboriginal women
- Lesbian: 3x higher risk than heterosexual counterparts
- Transgender: trans women of colour have a 2.6x higher risk

Objective Seven: To highlight the importance of ensuring LGBTQ2S-ARAO inclusion within policies and procedures which speak to sexual violence and D/IPV prevention and intervention.

Develop explicit policies and practices that speak to the unacceptability of homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic behaviour and ensure appropriate responses to incidents of discrimination.
Ensure themes of LGBTQ2S-ARAO diversity and inclusivity are included within all resources and supporting documents to ensure widespread implementation.
Call on the federal government to include gender identity in the criminal code hate crime provisions.
Much of the violence experienced by LGBTQ2S persons, especially transgender women, is hate motivated. Adding gender identity in the Criminal Code hate crime provisions, and human rights act non-discrimination provisions, would have a significant impact on rates of sexual violence and D/IPV in Canada.

Specifically call on the federal government to amend:
- Sections 318 (Advocating Genocide);
- 319 (Public Incitement and Willful Promotion of Hatred); and
- 718 Sub section 2 (a) (i) (Hate Crime Sentencing Provision) to include gender identity.

References

Ard, K. L., & Makadon, H. J. (2011). Addressing intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 26(8), 930-933.
Association of American Universities. (2014). Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct. Retrieved from https://www.aau.edu/Climate-Survey.aspx?id=16525
Brennan, S. (2011). Violent victimization of Aboriginal women in the Canadian provinces, 2009. Juristat. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11439-eng.pdf
Calton, J. M., Bennett Cattaneo, L., & Gebhard, K. T. (2015). Barriers to help seeking for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer survivors of intimate partner violence. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse. doi:10.1177/1524838015585318
(2015). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Workplace Issues. Retrieved from http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-workplace-issues
Grant, J. M., Mottet, L. A., & Tanis, J. (2011). Injustice at every turn: a report of the national transgender discrimination survey. Retrieved from http://www.transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/resources/NTDS_Report.pdf
Homeless Hub. (2015). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning and 2- Spirited (LGBTQ2). Retrieved from http://www.homelesshub.ca/abouthomelessness/population-specific/lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-transsexual-queer
Houston, E., & McKirnan, D. J. (2007). Intimate partner abuse among gay and bisexual men: risk correlates and health outcomes. Journal of Urban Health, 84(5), 681-690.
Jackson Heintz, A., & Melendez, R. M. (2006). Intimate partner violence and HIV/STD risk among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(2), 193-208. doi:10.1177/0886260505282104
Metrac (2014). Sexual Assault Policies on Campus. Retrieved from http://www.metrac.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/final.formatted.campus.discussion.paper_.26sept14.pdf
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. (2014). Intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), and HIV-affected communities in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.avp.org/storage/documents/ncavp2013ipvreport_webfinal.pdf
Parry, M. M., & O’Neal, E. N. (2015). Help-seeking behavior among same-sex intimate partner violence victims: an intersectional argument. Criminology, Criminal Justice Law, and Society, 16(1), 51-67.
Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research. (2011). Violence Against Women with Disabilities – Violence Prevention Review. Calgary, AB: Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research.
Walters, M. L., Chen, J., & Breiding, M. J. (2013). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Findings on Victimization by Sexual Orientation. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_sofindings.pdf

Presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Policy: Points of Consideration for Bill 132

12:48 pm by Jen Boyce

[button size=”large” type=”” color=”black” href=”https://egale.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bill-132-Presentation-to-Standing-Committee.pdf” ]Download and Print (PDF)[/button]

Objectives

1. To highlight the alarming prevalence of sexual violence and domestic and intimate partner violence (D/IPV) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) communities in comparison to non-LGB populations;

3. To highlight the increased risk of sexual violence and D/IPV for those with intersecting identities, in particular Two Spirit women and trans women of colour.

4. To highlight disproportionate ways lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and Two Spirit (LGBTQ2S) communities are impacted by sexual violence and D/IPV due to systemic oppression and discrimination;

6. To highlight the need for visibility and expanded access to support services for survivors from LGBTQ2S communities impacted by sexual violence and D/IPV; and

7. To highlight the importance of ensuring LGBTQ2S-ARAO inclusion within policies and procedures which speak to sexual violence and D/IPV prevention and intervention.

[toggle type=”first” title=”About Egale“]

Mission

Egale Canada Human Rights Trust (Egale) is Canada’s only national LGBTQ human rights charity seeking to advance the equitable inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and two spirit people through research, education and community engagement.

Vision

Egale’s vision is a Canada, and ultimately a world, free of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and all other forms of oppression, so that every person can achieve their full potential, unencumbered by hatred and bias.

Values and Approach

In support of our mission and vision, Egale leads numerous national projects:

Safer and Accepting Spaces: Empowering students, parents and educators to form peer networks and establish LGBTQ safer spaces in schools, Egale has delivered professional development workshops to over 10,000 teachers and educators. Egale’s programs and services also extend LGBTQ2S inclusiveness and acceptance to corporate, law enforcement, community and sports environments.

LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention: Egale has twice hosted Canada’s LGBTQ Youth Suicide Prevention Summit (2012, 2014), gathering experts and community members from across North America to talk about LGBTQ youth suicide, to share best practices and to advance strategies for the creation and implementation of concrete recommendations.

Expert Consultation and Policy Review: For nearly 30 years, Egale has engaged in policy review, consultation and development for external partners and clients, such as school boards, employers, legislators and public policy makers, both in Canada and abroad. Most recently, Egale provided testimony to the Ontario legislature regarding Bill 77, an Act to amend the Health Insurance Act and the Regulated Health Professions Act (1991) regarding efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity.

Egale Youth Housing: LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the homeless population, with over 20% of youth experiencing homelessness identifying as LGBTQ, compared to 3.5% of the general population (Homeless Hub, 2015). Family rejection, violence, social inequities, ostracism and discrimination are some major factors that lead LGBTQ youth into experiences of homelessness. In addition, many LGBTQ youth report feeling unsafe or being re-victimized in the current shelter system, and receiving inappropriate and unhelpful suicide crisis and mental health crisis support in health institutions. Egale operates a counselling, crisis intervention and housing support centre for LGBTQ youth, Egale Youth OUTreach (EYO), in order to help youth navigate these challenges and receive timely and positive mental health support. Approximately 45% of our clients identify as transgender or gender variant. EYO currently has 3 counsellors and 2 peer resource workers and has provided individual counselling to over 150 youth as well as provided a wide range of services to between 15 and 30 drop-in participants daily. The lessons that Egale has learned from the crisis intervention and housing stabilization program have helped shape the core of the Egale Centre approach, design and operating plan.

[/toggle]
[toggle title=”Empirical Evidence“]

Objective One: To highlight the alarming prevalence of sexual violence and domestic and intimate partner violence (D/IPV) among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) communities in comparison to ‘normative’ (non-LGB) populations.

Evidence from the large-scale Association of American Universities’ Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct (2015) suggests that LGBTQ students experience the most violent forms of campus-based sexual violence in comparison to non-LGBTQ counterparts.

While prevalence differs widely within the literature, several investigations estimate that nearly 50% of all same-sex relationships involve some degree of D/IPV (Parry & O’Neal, 2015).

Lifetime prevalence of D/IPV is significantly higher among bisexual women (61%) when compared to lesbian (43.8%) and heterosexual women (35%; Walters, Chen, & Breiding, 2013).

Men in same-sex relationships are as likely to experience D/IPV as heterosexual women and are three times more likely than men who experience D/IPV in a heterosexual relationship (Houston & McKirnan, 2007).

Approximately 47% of LGB workers have experienced workplace harassment and/or violence based on their sexual attraction (orientation) (Catalyst, 2015).

Objective Two: To highlight the heightened risk of experiencing sexual violence and D/IPV among trans and Two Spirit communities.

Transgender and gender variant communities are at increased risk of experiencing all forms of violence and harassment on campus (Metrac, 2014).

A 2011 joint analysis conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in the U.S concluded that approximately 19% of trans and gender non-conforming respondents had experienced D/IPV (Grant, Mottet, & Tanis, 2011).

Transgender women are more likely to experience physical violence and discrimination within an intimate relationship, and more likely to experience police violence when interacting with the authorities following an incident (National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 2014).

Approximately 90% of transgender and gender variant employees report experiencing workplace harassment and/or violence stemming from their gender identity and expression (Catalyst, 2015).

Objective Three: To highlight the increased risk of sexual violence and D/IPV for those with intersecting identities, in particular Two Spirit women and trans women of colour.

Risk of violence and discrimination increases within LGBTQ2S populations who experience multiple oppressions; transgender people of colour, young LGBTQ2S survivors, and aboriginal women are approximately 2.6 times more likely to experience a form of violence and discrimination within an intimate relationship (National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 2014).

Risk of sexual violence is heightened among women with different abilities (Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research, 2011) and Aboriginal women (Brennan, 2011).

Men who are HIV positive are at least 50% more likely to experience same-sex D/IPV (Jackson Heintz & Melendez, 2006).

Objective Four: To highlight the disproportionate ways LGBTQ2S communities are impacted by D/IPV due to systemic oppression and discrimination, emphasizing the importance of including gender identity and expression as reasons individuals may be targeted.

LGBTQ2S individuals encounter discrimination, stigmatization, and traumatic experiences at disproportionately higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. These experiences are motivated by intolerance, fear or hatred of the person’s diversity in attraction and/or gender identity in every social context: homes, schools, communities, religious and spiritual centres, public spaces, and health institutions.

LGBTQ2S survivors of sexual violence and D/IPV are less likely to report incidents to the authorities or access D/IPV shelters and support services than cisgender and heterosexual survivors. Barriers to help-seeking include an extreme lack of appropriate helping agencies and services (Ard & Makadon, 2011), prevailing stigmatization, and limited understanding of D/IPV within LGBTQ2S communities (Calton, Bennett Cattaneo, & Gebhard, 2015).

LGBTQ2S employees are less likely to report incidents of workplace harassment and/or violence due to lack of appropriate policies and procedures (Catalyst, 2015).

[/toggle]
[toggle title=”Strategy Recommendations“]

The considerable research evidence points to an urgent need to address the disproportionate rates of sexual violence and D/IPV and barriers to help-seeking within LGBTQ2S communities in Ontario.

1. Capacity Building:

Objective Five: To highlight the need for LGBTQ2S – anti-racist, anti-oppressive (ARAO) inclusivity training among first responders and helping professionals to allow for the appropriate support of individuals who have experienced or are experiencing sexual violence and D/IPV.

Sexual violence and D/IPV response services under-recognize those outside of a cisgender, heterosexual relationship. As a result lesbian and bisexual women, trans women, and Two Spirit women (as well as gay, trans and Two Spirit men) are often not reporting sexual violence and/or D/IPV, or are facing discrimination and further trauma by doing so.

Homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia on the part of service providers may result in the denial of access to services, victim blaming, and the devaluing of legitimate violence, as well as denial of access to social supports such as anti-violence programs, and shelters. Such help-seeking barriers increase the risk to survivor safety and often exacerbate the impact of trauma.

Discrimination within help-seeking is even more difficult for trans survivors of sexual violence and D/IPV who are often denied access to support services or denied police support as a result of their birth assigned sex, or perceived birth assigned sex, rather than their gender identity.

Professionals working in anti-violence efforts, including those who identify as LGB, require specialized transgender, gender variant, Two Spirit, and ARAO training to provide sensitive care that meets individual needs and mitigates risk.

Training should also include the spectrum of gender identity categories beyond the gender binary (genderqueer, agender, gender fluid, etc.).

Within incidents involving D/IPV reporting, misarrests, defined as the mistaken arrest of the survivor and not the abusive partner, is a common reality within LGBTQ2S communities. Training that pertains to same-sex, same-gender, and transgender or gender variant D/IPV are required to increase awareness of these situations and improve support for these demographics.

Training related to gender identity, expression, and sexual attraction (orientation) should be provided to all workplace administration and new employees. Refresher training should be regularly provided to all staff.

All of the preceding challenges are exacerbated within smaller communities and/or in communities with less exposure to, and experience with, sexual violence and D/IPV within same-gender/same-sex couples, transgender, gender variant and Two Spirit communities.

2. Increasing Visibility and Support

To heighten the visibility of LGBTQ2S communities, specifically transgender women of colour and Two Spirit women, given their increased need for sexual violence and D/IPV support.

Objective Six: To highlight the need for visibility and expanded access to support services for survivors from LGBTQ2S communities impacted by sexual violence and D/IPV.

While LGBTQ2S and racialized people are at greater risk of experiencing violence and discrimination, it is not their identities that are the cause of this risk. Rather, it is individual, institutional, and systemic forms of discrimination and oppression that contribute to elevated levels of risk, and that must be addressed by society as a whole.

All strategic recommendations must include identity specific experiences of LGBTQ2S communities particular to sexual violence and D/IPV. This is particularly true of transgender and Two Spirit people.

Specific barriers facing transgender individuals in addressing violence in their lives include (but are not limited to):
- Historical and current systemic discrimination including homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, and colonialism;

Historical pathologization of transgender persons;

Pervasive societal cisnormativity;

Difficulty finding trans-inclusive, anti-oppressive shelters, transitional housing, or other intervention services;

Increased fear of experiencing further trauma as a result of seeking support services that are unable to respect and accommodate their gender identity. This may include misgendering and asking potentially inappropriate and/or harmful questions related to body or gender identity;

Heightened fear of reporting violence due to risk of potential transphobia amongst police officers, fear of being mistaken as the abuser, fear of triggering past trauma related to transphobic incidents with the police or intervention services;

Fear of having gender identity (and/or attraction) disclosed by an abuser as retaliation for reporting. Being ‘outed’ could result in detriment to social networks, familial support, and housing and/or employment stability and lead to an increased risk of transphobic violence;

Fear of losing financial security, particularly for gender-affirming medical care and procedures; and

Fear of losing employment due to transphobia within the workplace.

Two Spirit people remain an under-acknowledged, under-represented and under-served demographic in Canada. Yet, due to the heightened risks associated with each of their intersecting identities, it can be assumed that Two Spirit individuals experience disproportionate levels of relationship-based violence.

With a glaring absence in research, the best one can do is an analysis related to each intersecting identity which may be experienced by any one individual, and extrapolate some truth about the heightened risk experienced by this demographic.

Aboriginal women face higher rates of increased domestic violence, including sexual assault, than non-aboriginal women.

This is then compounded by the higher rates of increased intimate partner violence experienced by those who identity as lesbian or bisexual.

Two spirit women who identify as transgender will also face the heightened risk factors associated with discrimination against transgender people, which is again increased as a trans woman of colour.

Take for example a two spirit, lesbian trans woman. As a result of her intersecting experiences of discrimination and oppression, she is likely to experience the increased risks associated with each level of her identity:
- Aboriginal: 2.5x higher risk than non-aboriginal women
- Lesbian: 3x higher risk than heterosexual counterparts
- Transgender: trans women of colour have a 2.6x higher risk

Objective Seven: To highlight the importance of ensuring LGBTQ2S-ARAO inclusion within policies and procedures which speak to sexual violence and D/IPV prevention and intervention.

Develop explicit policies and practices that speak to the unacceptability of homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic behaviour and ensure appropriate responses to incidents of discrimination.

Ensure themes of LGBTQ2S-ARAO diversity and inclusivity are included within all resources and supporting documents to ensure widespread implementation.

Call on the federal government to include gender identity in the criminal code hate crime provisions.

Much of the violence experienced by LGBTQ2S persons, especially transgender women, is hate motivated. Adding gender identity in the Criminal Code hate crime provisions, and human rights act non-discrimination provisions, would have a significant impact on rates of sexual violence and D/IPV in Canada.

Specifically call on the federal government to amend:

Sections 318 (Advocating Genocide);
319 (Public Incitement and Willful Promotion of Hatred); and
718 Sub section 2 (a) (i) (Hate Crime Sentencing Provision) to include gender identity.

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”References“]

Ard, K. L., & Makadon, H. J. (2011). Addressing intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 26(8), 930-933.

Association of American Universities. (2014). Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct. Retrieved from https://www.aau.edu/Climate-Survey.aspx?id=16525

Brennan, S. (2011). Violent victimization of Aboriginal women in the Canadian provinces, 2009. Juristat. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11439-eng.pdf

Calton, J. M., Bennett Cattaneo, L., & Gebhard, K. T. (2015). Barriers to help seeking for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer survivors of intimate partner violence. Trauma, Violence, and Abuse. doi:10.1177/1524838015585318

(2015). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Workplace Issues. Retrieved from http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-workplace-issues

Grant, J. M., Mottet, L. A., & Tanis, J. (2011). Injustice at every turn: a report of the national transgender discrimination survey. Retrieved from http://www.transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/resources/NTDS_Report.pdf

Homeless Hub. (2015). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning and 2- Spirited (LGBTQ2). Retrieved from http://www.homelesshub.ca/abouthomelessness/population-specific/lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-transsexual-queer

Houston, E., & McKirnan, D. J. (2007). Intimate partner abuse among gay and bisexual men: risk correlates and health outcomes. Journal of Urban Health, 84(5), 681-690.

Jackson Heintz, A., & Melendez, R. M. (2006). Intimate partner violence and HIV/STD risk among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(2), 193-208. doi:10.1177/0886260505282104

Metrac (2014). Sexual Assault Policies on Campus. Retrieved from http://www.metrac.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/final.formatted.campus.discussion.paper_.26sept14.pdf

National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. (2014). Intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), and HIV-affected communities in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.avp.org/storage/documents/ncavp2013ipvreport_webfinal.pdf

Parry, M. M., & O’Neal, E. N. (2015). Help-seeking behavior among same-sex intimate partner violence victims: an intersectional argument. Criminology, Criminal Justice Law, and Society, 16(1), 51-67.

Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research. (2011). Violence Against Women with Disabilities – Violence Prevention Review. Calgary, AB: Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research.

Walters, M. L., Chen, J., & Breiding, M. J. (2013). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Findings on Victimization by Sexual Orientation. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_sofindings.pdf[/toggle]

Tis the season

1:17 pm by Jen Boyce

Egale Youth OUTreach is a youth housing support and crisis intervention centre for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning and Two Spirit(LGBTQ2S) youth (16+) in the Greater Toronto Area. This project has identified the need for an LGBTQ2S specific housing shelter and we need your help to make this a reality and save the lives of our young people struggling to find a home.

The 6th Annual Egale Gala is Sept 12th!

12:36 pm by Jen Boyce

Thank you to all our sponsors, attendees and supporters! We had a wonderful night and sincerely appreciate your aid!

The 6^th Annual Egale Gala, supporting Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, is on September 12^th at 6:30pm at the beautiful Ritz Carlton Toronto. Egale is Canada’s only national charity promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) human rights through research, education and community engagement.

The Annual Egale Gala always brings together a wonderfully diverse mix of LGBTQ community members, labour advocates, politicians, business professionals and allies, to celebrate the year’s inspiring accomplishments and advancements in LGBTQ equality, while renewing their support for the work yet to be done.

This year we have many different ways to get involved and show your support, including individual tickets, tables, program ads, and sponsorship opportunities and the funds raised will be used towards continuing and expanding our youth programming, such as our Safer and Accepting Schools training program and the new Egale OUTreach Centre. Everything can be purchased here on our site, or you can contact us directly at events@egale.ca.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Can’t make it this year? Consider purchasing a ticket to sponsor someone who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend by contacting us at events@egale.ca .

WHEN

Friday, September 12, 2014
6:30 PM – 11:00 PM

WHERE

The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto – Ballroom
181 Wellington Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3G7
416-585-2500

12 Months, 221 Murders: Horrifying Numbers a Wake Up Call on Trans Day of Remembrance 2011

12:00 am by Jen Boyce

Within Canada, trans individuals frequently face discrimination, dramatically affecting their access to basic necessities such as housing, health care, employment and even education. Egale’s final report on homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in Canadian schools, Every Class in Every School, revealed that fully 78% of trans students feel unsafe at school, and 44% had skipped school because they feared for their safety. Moreover, 65% of trans students had been verbally harassed because of their gender identity and/or expression, and 37% had been physically harassed or assaulted.

To date, only six countries in the world have enacted legislation to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. In Canada, the Northwest Territories is the only provincial/territorial jurisdiction to have included “gender identity” in its human rights act, despite repeated calls by human rights commissions across the country for legislators to take action to promote and protect the rights of trans Canadians. Federally, a Private Member’s bill to include “gender identity” and “gender expression” in both the Canadian Human Rights Act and the hate crime provisions of the Criminal Code progressed as far as first reading in the Senate this year before it died on the Order Paper with the spring election call.
On November 20, 2011, over 140 cities will mark Trans Day of Remembrance with sombre reflection and an urgent call to action.

Hatred grows on fear and it grows on silence, but it cannot grow unless we allow it to. “We call on all Canadians, from coast to coast to coast, to stand in solidarity against fear and against hate,” declared Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada. “We cannot allow the continued silence and misinformation about trans lives to carry on unchallenged while violence against the community continues to escalate.”

The harrowing numbers from the Trans Murder Monitoring Project require immediate action from our communities, from our schools, and from all levels of government. Transphobic violence and murder are global phenomena and will remain our horrifying reality unless governments and communities around the world organize and educate to eradicate transphobia.

For more information:
Helen Kennedy, Egale Canada, 416-964-7887 ext. 21
Events to Commemorate Trans Day of Remembrance 2011 Across Canada

Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Will be holding a Transgender day of Remembrance event on Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 1:30 — 4:30 pm at The Old Y, 223 12 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Will hold a memorial for the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 7-9 pm at the McDougall United Church, 10086-101 Street, Edmonton, AB

Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Will be holding a Transgender day of Remembrance event Sunday November 20, 2011 2pm — 4 pm, 1206-6 Ave S (Lethbridge HIV Connection) Along with an opportunity to remember lives lost due to transhobia and violence, there will be a round table discussion on issues of safety and violence for trans people. Contact: info@outreachsa.ca or www.outreachsa.ca

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Will be holding a Transgender day of Remembrance event on Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 5:30-8:30 pm. March begins at The Carnegie Community Center. 401 Main St. (corner of Main & Hastings) (Vancouver)

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
The Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project will be hosting a Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil on Sunday 20th from 7.00-9.00pm. doors opening at 6.30pm. At Veith House ( 3115 Veith St., Halifax Nova Scotia ) There will be Guest Speakers, Reading of the Names and a Social after. All are Welcome. Contact: Regina Lohnes at tdor.hlfx@gmail.com

Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
Will be holding a Transgender day of Remembrance on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Mount Allison University Chapel [15 Salem Street, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada]. Join us for a candlelight vigil, followed by a screening of “A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story”, hosted by Catalyst, Mt.A’s Queer Straight Trans Alliance and Activist Society. Staff, students, faculty, and community members are welcome. For more information, please contact Amelia at catalyst@mta.ca.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Will be holding a Transgender Day of Remembrance event on Monday, November 21, 2011. There will be a candlelight vigil at the University Pride Center. For more information conact: Emily Striker emilystriker87@gmail.com.

Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Monday, November 21st, 7:30pm at Out On The Shelf, 141 Woolwich St, Unit 106. Presented by the paTio trans support group. For more information contact thepatiogroup@gmail.com

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Will be hosting a Transgender Day of Remembrance event on Friday, November 18th from 7:00 — 9:00 PM. At the 519 Church Street Community Centre at 519 Church St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For more information, please contact Morgan at mpage@the519.org.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Will be hosting a Transgender Day of Remembrance event on Monday, November 28th from 6:30 — 8:30 PM. At the William Doo Auditorium, 45 Willcocks St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Contact: tig.action.toronto@gmail.com