Backgrounder - Government of Canada Invests in LGBTQ2 communities
Backgrounder
Women and Gender Equality Canada
A key priority for the Government of Canada is to strengthen diversity and inclusion so that everyone can participate fully as members of Canadian society.
The Government of Canada’s commitment to LGBTQ2 (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit) persons is a key part of this priority. The Government is promoting LGBTQ2 equality, protecting LGBTQ2 rights, and addressing discrimination against LGBTQ2 communities, both past and current.
In December 2018, Status of Women Canada became Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) with an expanded mandate that includes the advancement of equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Following the expansion of WAGE’s mandate, the government created the first-ever federal program specifically dedicated to advancing equality with respect to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The new Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression Program will support LGBTQ2 organizations through the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund. This fund was created as a result of commitments made in Budget 2019.
LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund
Budget 2019 allocated $20 million in new funding to support the capacity-building and community-level work of Canadian LGBTQ2 organizations in Canada. Support will be directed to organizations working within LGBTQ2 communities whose initiatives contribute to strengthened LGBTQ2 communities and the advancement of equality for LGBTQ2 people in Canada.
These funds will be allocated over three fiscal years, from 2019 to 2022. In 2019-2020, $2 million is being allocated to build the initial infrastructure of existing or emerging national LGBTQ2 organizations by supporting targeted initiatives. It will allow funding agreement holders at the national level to help develop the capacity of local and regional organizations through funding, tools and other services. This will contribute to the readiness of a number of LGBTQ2 organizations (including assistance for organizations to become legally constituted) for a future call for proposals. This funding will also help national and local organizations work collectively to address equality issues.
Organizations with mandates to advance equality with respect to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression are eligible to apply to the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund. Organizations that mainly or exclusively support specific LGBTQ2 people (for example, gay men, the trans community, LBTQ2 women), or that focus on communities of intersection between LGBTQ2 communities and other identity factors, are also eligible to apply for this funding.
Canadian Trans Network
Project title: Canadian Trans Summit 2019
Funding amount: up to $100,000
Canadian Trans Network will collaborate with the community to organize a summit that brings transgender and non-binary communities together from across the country. Participants will be transgender and non-binary people with various lived experiences, as well as community leaders, activists, thought leaders and researchers. The gathering, and the associated process, will provide a unique opportunity to build connections, engage on and identify priorities for the community, and identify a way forward, including potential solutions and ideas for collaborative projects.
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust
Project title: Egale National LGBTQI2S Research Hub
Funding amount: up to $400,000
Egale will expand its research capacity by growing into a national LGBTQI2S (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and two-spirit) research lab and hub. This will ensure greater accessibility to knowledge, expertise, and best practices to address discrimination and oppression experienced by members of LGBTQI2S communities in Canada. Egale will create a national LGBTQI2S academic advisory council, an online research hub, complete a literature review and preliminary research studies on key areas of interest, and promote the research hub via online communication channels.
Egale’s vision is a Canada, and ultimately a world, without homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and all other forms of oppression, so that every person can achieve their full potential, free from hatred and bias. It works to improve the lives of LGBTQI2S people in Canada and to enhance the global response to LGBTQI2S issues. It will achieve this by informing public policy, inspiring cultural change, and promoting human rights and inclusion through research, education and community engagement.