Prime Minister proudly launches Canada’s first federal 2SLGBTQI+ action plan to continue building a more inclusive future

No matter who you are or who you love, you should have every chance of succeeding in Canada. The Government of Canada has taken historic steps in recent years to build a better and more inclusive future for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) people. ), and we know there is more to do.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accompanied by Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth, Marci Ien, today launched Canada’s first federal 2SLGBTQI+ action plan…Building our future, with pride, a whole-of-government approach to realizing a future where everyone in Canada is truly free to be who they are and to love who they love.

The action plan:

• Prioritize and sustain 2SLGBTQI+ community action supporting 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations in advocating for and serving the communities they represent;
• Continue to advance and strengthen 2SLGBTQI+ rights at home and abroad including building on the criminalization of conversion therapy and launching consultations on further criminal law reforms, as well as continuing to invest in overseas projects through the International Assistance Policy feminist of Canada;
• Supporting 2SLGBTQI+ Indigenous Resilience and Resurgence including continuing to fund 2SLGBTQI+ Indigenous community organizations, placing the “2S” to represent Two-Spirit people at the forefront of the 2SLGBTQI+ acronym, and creating a Senior Two-Spirit Advisor position within the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat;
• Engage everyone in Canada to foster a more inclusive future investing in awareness campaigns to improve understanding of 2SLGBTQI+ communities and issues;
• Strengthening 2SLGBTQI+ data and evidence-based policymaking by improve data collection, analysis, research and knowledge about 2SLGBTQI+ communities and the barriers they face in Canada; and
• Integrate 2SLGBTQI+ issues into the work of the Government of Canada ensuring coordinated action to advance 2SLGBTQI+ priorities across federal government organizations.

Budget 2022 committed $100 million over five years to develop and implement the action plan for 2SLGBTQI+ people. The Prime Minister also announced today that this includes:

• Up to $75 million for 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations that advocate for and serve their communities:
  • $40 million in new capacity building support, prioritizing funding for 2SLGBTQI+ communities that experience further marginalization, such as Black, Racialized, and Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ communities, 2SLGBTQI+ people with disabilities, seniors, youth, official language minority communities and those living in rural communities; and
  • $35 million in new support focused on projects to address specific barriers to 2SLGBTQI+ equality.
• $11.7 million for the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat to oversee and implement the action plan;
• $7.7 million for data collection and community-led policy research to support federal action on 2SLGBTQI+ issues; and
• $5.6 million to develop and implement awareness campaigns focused on eliminating stigma and ending discrimination for 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians.

The action plan was developed with community leaders, researchers and organizations. It responds to the concerns of diverse members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities across the country and uses an intersectional, holistic, and long-term approach to breaking down barriers and addressing discrimination and oppression of 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians.

Building on historic steps already taken, the Action Plan is a living document that continues to celebrate Canadians for who they are. Although this is a historic first, the work does not stop there – this action plan will continue to guide our work in the future. The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and territories, cities and towns, community organizations, and 2SLGBTQI+ people from all walks of life to build a better future we can all be proud of.

Quotation

“Canada gets a little stronger every day that we choose to embrace and celebrate who we are, in all of our uniqueness. We are a diverse nation enriched by the lives, experiences, and contributions of 2SLGBTQI+ people. Let’s celebrate all the communities that make Canada such a diverse country and work together to build a better future, with pride.

“Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan is a historic collaborative effort that will help build a more inclusive country. Based on the hard work of community members, organizations and allies, this action plan will set an example for generations to follow. I can assure you that the work does not stop there; we will continue to partner with 2SLGBTQI+ communities and leaders to ensure we build a Canada that serves everyone. »

Fast facts

• Terminology and acronyms are constantly evolving. Based on extensive consultation with 2SLGBTQI+ communities across the country, the Government of Canada will adopt and encourage the use of the acronym 2SLGBTQI+ (2SLGBTQI+ in French), which is more inclusive and places the experiences of Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ communities prominent as the first 2SLGBTQI+ peoples of North America. It represents two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other sexually and gender diverse people.
• Between fall 2020 and summer 2021, the Government of Canada undertook a community engagement process to inform the development of the 2SLGBTQI+ action plan, including 25,636 survey responses, 102 written submissions and roundtables with more than 100 attendees.
• The Government of Canada has taken historic steps in recent years to advance equality and create better opportunities for 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians, including:
  • In 2016, the Prime Minister appointed a special adviser on LGBTQ2 issues and shortly thereafter created what is now called the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat with a mandate to provide avenues for the federal government to address historical and ongoing injustices. experienced by 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada;
  • In 2017, the Canadian Human Rights Act and the criminal code have been updated to protect gender identity and gender expression;
  • In 2017, the Prime Minister apologized in the House of Commons for the systemic oppression, rejection and criminalization of Canadians who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirit;
  • In 2018, the Federal Court approved the LGBT Purge class action final settlement agreement;
  • In 2018, the Expungement of Historically Wrongful Convictions Act for qualifying offenses involving consensual same-sex sexual activity became law;
  • In 2019, the government repealed the anal intercourse, vagrancy and bawdy house offences. criminal code;
  • In 2019, the government announced targeted programs for 2SLGBTQI+ communities, including the Fund for Building Community Capacity and Promoting 2SLGBTQI+ Rights Globally through Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy;
  • In 2022, a An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy) became law, criminalizing this cruel, harmful and degrading practice; and
  • In 2022, the Prime Minister launched Canada’s first federal 2SLGBTQI+ action plan.

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