Rainbow Action Hub
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About the Rainbow Action Hub
Egale Canada’s Rainbow Action Hub is your one-stop-shop for the why and how to combat the rise of anti-2SLGBTQI hate in Canada. The hub includes resources, tools, education, and information aimed at 2SLGBTQI organizations, advocates, activists and anyone who wants to understand and combat anti-2SLGBTQI hate.
The Rainbow Action Hub’s resources and tools will assist you with:
- Understanding anti-2SLGBTQI hate in Canada.
- Understanding and Combating Mis/Dis/Malinformation.
- Crafting messaging and communication that is purposeful, strategic and direct.
- Ensuring safety amidst anti-2SLGBTQI hate
- Planning and implementing advocacy initiatives to combat anti-2SLGBTQI hate.
- Find and connect with your local 2SLGBTQI organizations.
The Rainbow Action Hub will be updated regularly with information and tools that respond to current affairs. If you have suggestions for tools you’d like to see on the Rainbow Action Hub send us an email at communications@egale.ca
Anti-2SLGBTQI Hate in Canada
An Overview of Anti-2SLGBTQI in Canada
It’s no secret that 2SLGBTQI communities, our rights, and our freedoms are under attack.
There has been an exponential rise in anti-2SLGBTQI and hate-fueled movements across Canada. We see it in the anti-trans policies and policy proposals emerging provincially and federally, and in the rising rates of hate crimes, hate speech, and hate in the form of coordinated anti-trans protests in cities across Canada.
This rise in anti-2SLGBTQI hate can be described as a culture war. A culture war is a conflict between groups, especially liberal and conservative groups, that have different cultural ideals, beliefs, or philosophies.
2SLGBTQI Culture War Areas of Focus
When we look at the 2SLGBTQI culture war in Canada we see several common areas of focus:
Research shows that the current rise in anti-2SLGBTQI hate being experienced in Canada began in early 2022, with a significant wave of anti-2SLGBTQI activities continuing across the country from 2022 to the present. From this latest increase in hate crimes (see below), to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) warning of ongoing threats of violence, to individual drag performers and local 2SLGBTQI community organizations needing to take legal action to protect themselves, this trend of increasing violence and hate shows no sign of stopping.
What Does the Data Say?
Statistics Canada has reported that in 2023, hate crimes targeting sexual orientation increased 69% from the previous year.
These numbers are alarming but unsurprising, as this trend has been ongoing for years.
From 2016-2023, police-reported hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation have increased a staggering 388%. As noted by Statistics Canada, police-reported hate crimes have risen sharply for the third time in four years.
These types of hate crimes target a person’s identity – sexual orientation, race, or religion – and they impact not only the individual but the wider community.
How and Why Does Anti-2SLGBQI Hate Spread?
Anti-2SLGBTQI players lean on neutral/common sense concepts like free speech, democracy, and “protection of children”. They do not count on the majority to believe what they say, but rather, the majority will defend their right to say. By pairing anti-2SLGBTQI ideas with an easily given right (such as freedom), anti-2SLGBTQI rhetoric gains legitimacy.
Additionally, this rise in anti-2SLGBTQI hate and specifically anti-trans hate is directly linked to the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and malformation. Coordinated anti-2SLGBTQI movements rely on the general public’s lack of familiarity with 2SLGBTQI people and issues to disseminate harmful disinformation and malformation.
Current Provincial Affairs
It’s no secret that 2SLGBTQI communities, our rights, and our freedoms are under attack. Across Canada, we’re seeing anti-trans policies and policy proposals emerging provincially and federally. Learn what’s happening in the provinces below:
Understanding and Combatting Mis/Dis/Malinformation
This rise in anti-2SLGBTQI and specifically anti-trans hate is directly linked to the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and malformation.
What is misinformation?
False or inaccurate information. The individual sharing the misinformation
believes it to be true.
What is disinformation?
Deliberately false information, often used for manipulation.
What is malinformation?
Information that stems from truth, but is taken out of context or exaggerated
in order to mislead or manipulate.
Coordinated anti-2SLGBTQI movements are relying on the general public’s lack of familiarity with trans and gender diverse people to disseminate harmful disinformation and malformation.
Egale Canada is creating resources to empower 2SLGBTQI organizations, advocates, activists and everyday people with the knowledge they need to adequately have educated conversations about these complex topics. Is there a topic or issue you’d like to see added below? Contact us at communications@egale.ca.
‘Egale Explains’ Resources
What is Transition?
People transition for a variety of reasons, primarily related to gender identity. Use this resource to understand what transition can include.
What Are Puberty Blockers?
Puberty blockers can offer tremendous mental health benefits to a young person. This resource answers the question, “What exactly are puberty blockers?”
Common Myths and Misconceptions About Trans Youth
Misinformation and disinformation feed many myths and misconceptions that people have about trans and nonbinary youth. This resource debunks a few of the biggest ones.
School Pronoun Policies
With the rise of so-called “school pronoun policies” use the resource to understand what’s at stake when young people who are forced to choose between being outed to their families and being misgendered at school.
Trans Women in Sport
There’s lots of misinformation in the world about trans women participating in sport. Use this resource to understand what trans-inclusive sport actually looks like.
“Transvestigation” in Sport and How it Feeds Misogyny
Transphobia and misogyny are closely linked together and many who are swept up in this moral panic of transphobia are actually harming those who they claim to protect. One increasingly common process that proponents claim is to “protect women” is so-called “transvestigating”.
What is Drag and What Are Drag Storytimes?
During this time of rising 2SLGBTQI-hate, much of the hate is aimed at drag artists and family-friendly drag storytimes. Use this resource to accurately explain what each of these art forms are.
Hate Crimes and Hate Incidents
In common language, we often use the term ‘hate crime’ whenever hate occurs. However, it is important to know that ‘hate crime’ has a specific definition in criminal law. Use this resource to understand how to accurately talk about hate crime.
Why is the UK’s Cass Review Harmful
The Cass Review is a review of the UK’s healthcare services for trans and nonbinary children and youth. The Cass Review has been widely criticized by human rights organizations. Use this resource to understand why.
➤ Resource coming soon!
What is Detransition?
Some people undergo some form of gender transition and decide to halt or reverse the transition process. Use this resource to accurately understand what detransition is and how to de-weaponize the detransition narrative.
➤ Resource coming soon!
Research Says…
An important tactic in combating hate is presenting facts. Egale Canada has a plethora of research to support you in combating anti-2SLGBTQI hate.
2022 Police-Reported Hate Crimes
From Statistics Canada: the number of police-reported hate crimes targeting sexual orientation continues to increase every year.
Still in Every Class, in Every School Report
Still in Every Class in Every School (Peter, Campbell & Taylor, 2021) surveyed students across Canada about their experiences with homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, harassment, mental health and sense of safety, and support at school.
Working for Change Report
Egale Canada’s Working for Change report examines the workplace experiences, barriers to employment, and discrimination faced by Two Spirit, trans, and nonbinary people.
Pride Unravelled Report
Egale Canada’s Pride Unravelled report tracked the number of anti-2SLGBTQI protests and instances of online hate in Canada from January-March 2023.
Other Resources
Valuable resources from other organizations.
Expelling Transphobia
A handbook of strategies to address transphobic attacks in the B.C. school system.
Media & Messaging
The rise in anti-2SLGBTQI hate is often coordinated and has strategic messaging attached to it. To counter this hate, it’s important to have messaging that is purposeful, strategic and direct.
Whether you’re talking to your local news reporter or a family member at the kitchen table, messaging has the power to shape attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours, making them indispensable tools in the fight against anti-2SLGBTQI hate and the promotion of equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals.
Featured Resource
Inclusive Narratives: A Messaging Guide for 2SLGBTQI Advocacy
We have created this guide to provide the tools needed by advocates and organizations to develop effective messaging to combat the ongoing rise in anti-2SLGBTQI hate.
The content in this guide was informed by We Will Win: Guide to Campaign Messaging in Support of Trans Youth. While We Will Win remains applicable for messaging in support of trans youth, this guide has been developed for broader use by all 2SLGBTQI advocates and organizations.
Difficult Conversation Guide
This resource is designed to empower you with the knowledge you need to have the difficult conversations needed to tackle anti-2SLGBTQI hate, and help familiarize members of your community with the issues facing trans and gender diverse people across Canada.
2SLGBTQI Advocacy Communications Toolkit
Trying to combat anti-2SLGBTQI hate? Use our 2SLGBTQI Advocacy Communications Toolkit to plan a successful advocacy communications campaign
Safety & Advocacy
2SLGBTQI Event Safety Toolkits
Guides for 2SLGBTQI people and allies on how to stay safe amid rising levels of anti-2SLGBTQI hate at public events.
- Pride Safety Toolkit for Event Attendees
- Pride Safety Toolkit for Event Organizers
- 2SLGBTQI Protest Safety Guide
The Pride Safety Toolkits were developed by Egale Canada and Fierté Canada Pride with support from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network.
More resources are coming soon!
Find & Connect with your Local 2SLGBTQI Organizations
Canada is full of 2SLGBTQI organizations of every size. Working with local organizations is crucial when combating anti-2SLGBTQI hate because they bring contextual understanding, community trust, tailored interventions, rapid response capabilities, capacity building, an intersectional approach, policy advocacy, and long-term sustainability to the fight against discrimination and prejudice.
Use this page to discover local organizations near you for collaboration to combat anti-2SLGBTQI hate.
Find Your Local 2SLGBTQI Organization
Don’t see your local 2SLGBTQI organization? Let us know communications@egale.ca
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Thank You to the Rainbow Action Hub Partners
Egale Canada would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Rainbow Action Hub partners for their invaluable support and generosity. Without their dedication and investment, our progress in combatting the rise in anti-2SLGBTQI hate would not be possible.
Please shop our partners’ marketplace to support our critical work:
Support the Rainbow Action Hub
Do you find the Rainbow Action Hub helpful? Donate to Egale so we can continue this work!