Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, trans and intersex people are subjected to harassment and discrimination too often. Most of the time, the discrimination that 2SLGBTQ+ people in Canada face happens at work. Workplace harassment, violence and discrimination are especially severe for 2SLGBTQ+ workers who are also Indigenous, Black or racialized.
CUPE’s own research shows that even in the absence of overt violence or harassment, heteronormativity (the assumption that everyone is heterosexual) often shows up at work. This bias can be seen in many ways including in casual conversations, employee records, health benefits forms, employer memos, invitations to social functions and so on.
Cisnormativity, the assumption that everyone identifies with the gender designated at birth, also shapes our workplaces. The gender binary of “woman/female” and “man/male” is built into communications, infrastructure like washrooms and changerooms, and other systems. Many trans and non-binary workers also face frequent misgendering and other forms of harassment from co-workers and managers.
But 2SLGBTQ+ workers and our allies fight to make our work and public services safer for all. CUPE members know that homophobia, transphobia and biphobia have no place in our workplaces or communities. Today and every day, CUPE stands with 2SLGBTQ+ workers to end violence, harassment, and discrimination in all their forms.
Take Action!
- Learn how to fight homophobia and transphobia at the bargaining table with CUPE’s Bargaining LGBTQ2+ rights checklist, and watch for CUPE’s new gender diversity bargaining guide, coming soon.
- Download and share CUPE’s recent report “It’s Got To Be About Safety”: Public Services that Work for LGBTQ2+ Older Adults and LGBTQ2+ Workers in Canada.
- Raise awareness: download and share CUPE’s fact sheets on Allies on gender diversity and Pronouns.
- Download our poster.
