We are pleased to provide Egale’s Update – this is a monthly report which Egale produces in French and English to keep our communities across Canada informed about the activities of their national organization, and the latest developments in the struggle for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered equality. Feel free to distribute the monthly report to other e-mail lists and to your friends, or to include a copy in your organization’s newsletter. Community newspapers are also welcome to reprint the update, in whole or in part, with due acknowledgment to Egale.
To join Egale or support us financially, just fill out the secure form at:
https://www.islandnet.com/~egale/intro/appeal.htm
This past month, we have been busy with a number of projects, including presentation of our submissions on the proposed Quebec civil union legislation, a consultation on the intersection of race and sexual orientation issues, lobbying around the new immigration regulations, a petition presentation, responding to the Law Commission report on relationship recognition, and conduct of our AGM.
Quebec Legislative Commission holds public hearings on Civil Union proposals:
Throughout February, a Legislative Commission of the Quebec National Assembly held public hearings on a proposed Bill to create a new ‘civil union’ status for same-sex couples. Numerous community groups participated in the consultations, and the Coalition québécoise pour la reconnaissance des conjoints et conjointes de même sexe was instrumental in coordinating community involvement.
Newly-elected Egale Board member Claude Côté prepared Egale’s brief, and Claude and Executive Director John Fisher testified together before the Commission on February 21, 2002.
Egale gave an overview of recent advances in other jurisdictions across Canada and supported the Coalition positions calling upon the Quebec government to, among other things, add same-sex adoption and parental rights to the proposed Bill, to amend the proposal so that civil unions apply equally to same-sex and opposite-sex couples, and to repeal art. 365 of the Québec Civil Code, which restricts ‘marriage’ to opposite-sex couples.
In his closing remarks, Québec Justice Minister Paul Bégin spoke of the emotional impact and effectiveness of the witnesses who appeared, including youth who were raised in same-sex households. He expressed his support for extending civil union status to heterosexuals, for including adoption, parental rights and consent to medical treatment, and for amending the ‘opposite-sex’ definition of marriage in the Civil Code (although same-sex marriage will still be prohibited by federal law). He further expressed his intention to enact the law before the National Assembly rises in June.
Egale hosts consultation on intersection of race and sexual orientation issues:
On February 16-17, Egale hosted a consultation on the intersection of race and sexual orientation issues. This consultation grew out of our work at the World Conference against Racism and Related Intolerance.
In an intensive agenda, consultation participants explored themes such as racism in the queer community, homophobia in communities of colour, racial/ethnic stereotyping, health and wellness issues, intersections with class, economic and social disadvantage, conceptualizing multiple oppression, two-spirited networking, language and how it structures oppression, working internationally, immigration and refugee issues, and many other topics.
Participants also discussed how Egale can structure itself to better address issues of intersectional oppression, build coalitions and bring a broader perspective to its policy development.
The consultation was an important first step in developing Egale as an organisation that is more accessible to LGBTs of colour and other diverse communities, and in bringing a more intersectional perspective to our positions. We will be developing a report to outline in more detail the many constructive recommendations that were made.
The spirit of openness of all consultation participants was noted many times during the weekend. Thanks are also due to Chris Boodram, a placement student with Egale, as well as to Consultation Committee Members Wayne van der Meide, Anthony Mohammed, Fiona Meyer-Cook, Lisa Lachance and Kim Vance, for their hard work and commitment. Catherine Meade did a great job of facilitation, and the Mohawk Welcome Prayer, centering exercise and closing ceremony provided by Diane Labelle were also much appreciated.
Judge dismisses evidence from police raid on lesbian bathhouse:
Ontario judge Peter Hryn recently excluded evidence obtained by police during a raid on a lesbian bathhouse night, saying that the intrusion into an intimate women’s space of uniformed male police officers violated the women’s right to privacy. The judge likened the raid to a strip search, denouncing the police actions as humiliating and degrading, and calling the violation of the women’s Charter rights flagrant and outrageous.
With the evidence excluded, the charges against the organizers were withdrawn by the Crown. For full details about the Court decision, visit: www.pussypalacetoronto.com.
Donations to help cover legal costs can be sent to the Women’s Bathhouse Defence Fund, 175 Harbord St, Toronto, ON, M5S 1H5 or by calling Good For Her: (416) 588-0900. A fundraising dinner (“Cat Fight”) is also taking place at Byzantium Restaurant in Toronto at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday March 26, 2002. Tickets are available at Good For Her (416) 588-0900 and Xtra (416) 925-6665. For more information, call Loralee Gillis of the Women’s Bathhouse Committee at 416-340-8484 x 319.
Egale testifies on immigration regulations with LEGIT and Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network:
Egale and LEGIT (Lesbian and Gay Immigration Task Force) spokespeople met with representatives of the Departments of Immigration and Justice earlier this month to discuss concerns around the new proposed immigration regulations. Of particular concern is a proposed cohabitation requirement, which is unworkable in the immigration context where couples often cannot live together precisely because of their immigration status. The recent introduction of routine HIV testing will also disqualify some applicants if they do not meet the criteria for the family class.
We appeared on February 5 before the House of Commons Citizenship and Immigration Committee, together with LEGIT and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. Committee Chair Joe Fontana, M.P., agreed with our concerns, calling the current regulations “idiotic” and “a pile of crap”. Representatives of the Department of Immigration seemed a bit shaken by the Chair’s forceful criticisms and lobbying will continue over the next month, as we attempt to persuade the Minister of Immigration to develop more realistic immigration criteria.
Thanks are due to lawyer Michael Battista, who joined Executive Director John Fisher in testifying before the Committee.
Egale presents 15,000 signatures on same-sex marriage petitions:
Egale held a Press Conference on February 19 to present MPs with petitions in support of same-sex marriage, signed by 15,000 Canadians from every region of the country. The petitions were received by NDP MP Svend Robinson, Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett and Bloc Québécois MP Réal Ménard. Canadian Alliance MP Rahim Jaffer also sent a message, acknowledging that there is much to do in the struggle for equality.
The petitions will now be presented to the House of Commons by MPs from each of the ridings across Canada in which they were gathered.
Law Commission of Canada releases landmark report:
The Law Commission of Canada recently released its landmark report “Beyond Conjugality”, calling for reform of Canada’s approach to recognizing close personal relationships.
The Law Commission supports equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, saying that “there is no justification for maintaining the current distinctions between same-sex and heterosexual conjugal unions” and that “adherence to the fundamental values of equality, choice and freedom of conscience and religion requires that restrictions on same-sex marriages be removed”.
The Commission also calls for a more purpose-based approach to allocating government programs, recognizing that whether or not a person is in a conjugal relationship is often irrelevant to the goals of a particular program. The Law Commission proposes a new framework for approaching relationship issues, designed to maximise the principles of autonomy, equality, privacy and choice. Egale has supported such an approach in its dealings with the Commission.
PrideVision Advisory Council meeting:
Egale Executive Director John Fisher participated in a meeting of the PrideVision Advisory Council in Vancouver on February 22. Issues raised included diversity programming, developing French communications, expanding current affairs coverage and future directions for PrideVision.
Community members can find out more about subscribing to PrideVision by e-mailing inquiries@PrideVisionTV.com, visiting www.PrideVisionTV.com or calling 1-877-PRIDE-TV. Part of the PrideVision subscription fee goes to developing original queer Canadian content, as well as setting up an LGBT Community Foundation.
Egale participates in Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade consultations:
Egale participated on February 25-27 in consultations organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to discuss Canada’s domestic and international human rights record.
Egale questioned the newly-appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham about Canada’s willingness to support UN research on LGBT human rights abuses internationally, and also raised concerns during the consultation about the many countries which maintain criminal sanctions and, in some cases, even the death penalty for homosexuality.
Minister Graham commended Egale for its “tenacity” in keeping the Canadian government focused on these issues, and pledged to continue to work with us on issues of international concern.
Egale AGM and Board Elections:
Egale’s AGM went smoothly on February 9, and we were pleased to report on a successful year with increases in the range and diversity of our activities, as well as continued organizational development, membership growth and increased staff and volunteer support.
We are also very pleased to advise that all positions on the Egale Board are now filled, and the Board this year will be composed of the following dedicated individuals:
BC/Yukon:
Dale Akerstrom, dale@egale.ca
Cynthia Callahan, cynthia@egale.ca
Prairies/NWT/Nunavut:
Gilles Marchildon, gilles@egale.ca
Megan Morman, megan@egale.ca
Ontario:
Laurie Arron, laurie@egale.ca
OmiSoore Dryden, omisoore@egale.ca
NCR:
Bill Hawke, bill@egale.ca
Lisa Lachance, lisa@egale.ca
Québec:
Claude Côté, claude@egale.ca
Micheline Montreuil, micheline@egale.ca
Atlantic:
Don Tabor, don@egale.ca
Kim Vance, kim@egale.ca
Kim Vance will continue as President, and Bill Hawke will continue as Treasurer. We are pleased to welcome to the Executive Dale Akerstrom as Vice-President and Lisa Lachance as Secretary.
The Egale Board and staff will meet in Quebec City for its annual retreat and planning session from March 8-10, 2002.
To join Egale or support us financially, fill out the secure form at:
https://www.islandnet.com/~egale/intro/appeal.htm
Egale Canada ©2007