Progress on the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan

Prioritize and sustain 2SLGBTQI+ community action

Accomplishments

• Provided $1.5M in emergency funding to Fierté Canada Pride to administer an emergency fund to help pride organizations cover the cost of increasing security costs at Pride events.

Continue to advance and strengthen 2SLGBTQI+ rights at home and abroad  

Accomplishments

• Completed consultations to review the criminal law regarding HIV non-disclosure. On June 23, 2023, Justice Canada released its What We Heard report, summarizing the online consultations.
• Added additional historically unjust 2SLGBTQI+ offences (bawdy house and indecency-based offences) to the schedule of Bill C-66, the Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act.
• Continued the Government of Canada’s work to advance the global protection and promotion of 2SLGBTQI+ rights through diplomacy and advocacy at multilateral, regional, bilateral and international levels. This work includes, but is not limited to:
  • Active engagement in the Equal Rights Coalition, and joining the Coalition in issuing joint statements (e.g., Uganda, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia)
  • A commitment, alongside United States and Mexico partners, to continue to “combat violence against LGBTQI+ individuals by working together to expand membership within the Americas to the Equal Rights Coalition and the UN LGBTQI+ Core Group”
  • Through G7 membership, a commitment to ensure full, equal and meaningful participation of LGBTQIA+ persons in politics, economics, education and all other spheres of influence
  • Hosted US Special Envoy on LGBTQI+ Rights, Jessica Stern, in Canada, where she met with Government officials, politicians and 2SLGBTQI+ activists
• Built on investments since 2019 for 2SLGBTQI+ projects abroad by continuing to work towards an annual investment of up to $10 million starting in 2025-26. Global Affairs Canada’s continued commitment to build on investment in 2SLGBTQI+ projects includes the:
  • $1.1M LGBTI Pathways project with ILGA World, announced in March 2023. This global research and capacity building initiative will aim to increase funding towards improving the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ around the world
  • $450,000 “Rights and Well-being of LBTQI+ women and girls in West Africa and International Spaces” project with Égides, announced in March 2023. The project will improve LGBTQI+ women and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and promote their voices in leadership and decision-making spaces
• Continued the Government of Canada’s work in organizing missions and international initiatives that support 2SLGBTQI+ objectives. For example:
  • The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives has provided more than $3.6M in funding to more than 115 projects advancing the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ people around the world
  • Raised awareness of 2SLGBTQI+ issues in Hungary, Thailand, Moscow and Helsinki
  • Canada in Australia supported a strong Canadian presence at Sydney World Pride 
• Established a partnership with Rainbow Railroad to identify LGBTQI+ people and families fleeing violence and persecution, and to refer them to the Government of Canada for resettlement under the Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) Program.
• Published information and resources devoted to assisting Canadians that are sent abroad for conversion therapy.

Support Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ resilience and resurgence 

Accomplishments

• A total of 17 organizations that identified Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ individuals and communities as a primary population they serve have been supported under the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund and 2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund to date
• Provided close to $2M in funding to four organizations promoting Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ voices and unique perspectives on effectively protecting an promoting Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ people through the Supporting Indigenous Women’s and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Organizations program
• In Spring 2023, the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat appointed a dedicated Two-Spirit Senior Advisor to work with partners throughout the federal government and with Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ communities, organizations and representatives. Their role is to provide advice on unique challenges faced by Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ communities, inform policies and programs impacting Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and support the implementation of 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan initiatives.
• Launched a Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak/Women of the Metis Nation project in September 2022 – “Two-Spirit Pride: Protecting and Celebrating 2SLGBTQQIA+ Individuals”.
• New 2SLGBTQI+ acronym adopted and encouraged across Government of Canada.
  2SLGBTQI+ terminology – Glossary and common acronyms - Women and Gender Equality Canada

Engage everyone in Canada in fostering a 2SLGBTQI+ inclusive future 

Accomplishments

• Completed public opinion research as the first phase of work in the awareness campaign to enhance inclusion and break down stigma and discrimination against 2SLGBTQI+ communities. See the report summarizing the Public Opinion research.
• Awarded a $1.1M contract to a marketing firm to develop, manage, and implement an awareness campaign to enhance inclusion and break down stigma and discrimination against 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Strengthen 2SLGBTQI+ data and evidence-based policy making 

Accomplishments

• Approved research implementation for $7.7 million to support new community-led research, and to conduct new data collection and research to inform future 2SLGBTQI+ initiatives.
• Agreement signed between Women and Gender Equality Canada and Statistics Canada to support the development of research projects related to 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada.
• Released intersectional data from the 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan survey.

Embed 2SLGBTQI+ issues in the work of the Government of Canada 

Accomplishments

Responding to 2SLGBTQI+ community priorities

• Created a $25M 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program to deliver critical business advice, create resources, provide mentorship, and collect data to better support 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs.
• Provided $1M in time-limited funding to support community-based organizations in mpox prevention, education, awareness and anti-stigma activities for gay and bisexual men who have sex with men.

Strengthening inclusion in federal workplaces and righting historic wrongs:

• Completed one Canada Pride Citation ceremony for RCMP claimants and four ceremonies for Federal Public Service claimants under LGBT Purge Class Action Settlement Agreement.
• Modernized Canadian Armed Forces Dress Instructions to more accurately reflect the identities of Canadians who choose to serve, which includes eliminating gendered dress and removing gender-specific regulations, except where operationally required.
• Supported employee-led Pride initiatives, including:
  • Treasury Board Secretariat allocating a total of $300,000 to four of its internal employee-led equity networks, including the 2SLGBTQIA+ Network, to support programming
  • The Defence Team’s Positive Space program, which has developed new standards, plans and curriculum for Positive Space Ambassadors and Facilitators
• Presented the Action Plan to federal departments and external stakeholders.
• Updated the Public Service Employee survey to allow public servants to voluntarily identify as 2SLGBTQI+.

Implementing a new Community Partnership Committee

• Held four meetings with the community representatives for new Community and Government of Canada Partnership Committee, as of August 28, 2023.