International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

Every year on May 17, the world commemorates the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. It is an effort to bring attention to the issues of violence, discrimination, and difficulties faced by the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. It is a worldwide celebration of sexual and gender diversities.

Article 1 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which celebrated its 75^th anniversary last December, states that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” It is, however, a promise not yet fulfilled for 2SLGBTQIA+ people around the world and for everyone experiencing the impact of intersecting inequalities on their lives. This is why the theme for this year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia is a call for unity: “No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all”.  

Remember that we can only bring about a world free from injustice and where no one is left behind if we stand united in support of one another. We must take action to make certain everyone has a place where they feel safe. Here are three resources available to all Parks Canada team members as we approach Pride season.

Positive Space Training

To gain additional knowledge on the history of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada, enroll in the Positive Space Initiative (PSI) training. The PSI aims to improve the working conditions for 2SLGBTQIA+ employees by fostering a more welcoming, safe, and inclusive workplace. The Canada School of Public Service offers awareness and ambassador training, or you can do it internally through the Pride Network.

Pride at Work Canada

Parks Canada is proud to be a partner of Pride at Work Canada (PAWC) for the past four years. We invite every team member to participate in PAWC's activities. To keep informed on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues and to further your education, sign up for its newsletter and attend its webinars.

Public Service Pride Network

We are proud to remind everyone that a Parks Canada team won the 2022 Workplace Pride Initiative of the Year Award for its Directive on Inclusive Sanitary Facility Design. This continues to drive our design with new and renovated sanitary facilities. Please, check out the Public Service Pride Network page and learn about its micro-assignments, publications, awards, the mentoring program, the executive network, and the famous Public Service Pride Week.

As Co-Champions of the Parks Canada’s Pride Network, we are pleased to introduce the new co-chair, Lexi Danis-Pries, from Winnipeg where she lives with her partner and cat. She prizes healthy communication and community building, and with this in mind, is looking forward to working alongside her co-chair Hélène Genest. We also continue to be thrilled that the network has Hélène’s passionate and dedicated leadership alongside Lexis. The two are already a dynamic duo! Welcome Lexi to the co-presidency of the Pride Network.

Happy May 17!

Marcia Morash and Andrew Campbell
Pride Network Co-Champions