Backgrounder - Government of Canada Invests in LGBTQ2 communities in Western Canada 

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 equality for LGBTQ2 people in Canada, 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 Rainbow Coalition for Refuge

Project title: Canadian Rainbow Coalition for Refuge: Community of Practice with LGBTQ2 Refugees
Funding amount: up to $150,000

The Canadian Rainbow Coalition for Refuge will strengthen its capacity and promote collaborative knowledge generation and mobilization amongst the emerging national network of refugee focused LGBTQ2 civil society organizations, in order to offer LGBTQ2 newcomers safety, care, and resources for resilience, as well as opportunities for livelihood and civic participation.  Organizational capacity will be enhanced through the development of the organization’s governance structure and expansion using a community of practice model, and conducting needs assessments for regional hubs and the National network.

The Canadian Rainbow Coalition for Refuge (RC4R) is comprised of LGBTQ2 refugee civil society organizations that assist and advocate for people displaced by persecution due to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) to access refugee protection and settle in supportive communities in Canada. 

Enchanté: a Network of 2SLGBTQ+ Centres of Canada                    

Project title: Building the Capacity of Enchanté: a network of 2SLGBTQ+ Centres of Canada
Funding amount: up to $700,000

Enchanté will strengthen its organizational capacity to achieve incorporation and expansion from coast to coast to coast. It will also develop and implement a modern communication strategy and organize its founding national meeting. In addition, Enchanté will provide microgrants to help strengthen LGBTQ2 centres across the country. 

Established in 2018, Enchanté is an emerging national not-for-profit national network of LGBTQ2 organizations providing community services and support to LGBTQ2 populations in communities across Canada. The network aims to develop and share programs, resources and knowledge to support capacity and sustainability of gender and sexually diverse community groups, as well as Two Spirit groups.

2 Spirits in Motion Foundation                                        

Project title: Building the capacity of the 2 Spirits in Motion Foundation
Funding amount: up to $200,000

The 2 Spirits in Motion Foundation will expand and grow its capacity for services and advocacy by promoting collaborative knowledge generation and dissemination amongst Two Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQ2 peoples and organizations. A national Two Spirit gathering will determine priorities and expected outcomes for future policy and planning. In time, this will lead to the creation of a safe and supportive environment for Two Spirit peoples in Canada.  It will develop a strategic plan to advance its internal structure as well as the disbursement of microgrants to strengthen local and regional Two-Spirit organizations in Canada.