Stand in solidarity with Trans workers on Trans Awareness Week
Toronto – November 13, 2024 – Transgender Awareness Week runs from November 13-19, and this year, it is more crucial than ever as a tide of right-wing transphobia transforms governments across the country.
In last week’s American election, ads attacking trans people and issues dominated the airwaves, as right-wing politicians seek to exploit fear and ignorance.
In Canada, the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are passing legislation attacking trans kids in schools, with more U.S.-style attacks promising to come.
“The effect of these anti-trans laws and policies is to expose trans people to a substantial increased risk of death,” writes Charlotte Dalwood in Rabble.ca.
Labour unions have been long-standing advocates for transgender rights, and their support is crucial in the face of current attacks. In 2020, 85% of UFCW survey-respondents who identified as intersex, transgender or non-binary stated that they observed or experienced anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in the workplace (in a 1,000 person survey of 2SLGBTQ+ UFCW members). This is twice as much as any other responding group.
UFCW 401 is helping to lead the fight against Premier Smith’s escalating attacks on trans rights in Alberta with education, advocacy and organizing. Numerous local unions across the country are educating and advocating about trans justice within their networks.
Bennett Jenson, the Director of Legal at Egale Canada, a 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy organization sat down with UFCW Canada last month to explain how the impact of current laws are impacting trans Canadians.
“These policies change the lives of the young people in question, virtually overnight for the worse,” Jenson explains the effect that these policies have had on the lives of trans and gender diverse kids in New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. “This policy has completely changed their lives: bullying has gone way up, their level of comfort in broader society has gone way down. The parents are experiencing more abuse in community. And the mental health of these young kids has plummeted. It's had a devastating impact.”
Trans Week of Awareness concludes with Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, in memory of transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence this year. On February 3, 2023, aUFCW 227 member was murdered outside her workplace by a co-worker: Imanitwitaho Zachee was a 26-year-old black trans woman, an immigrant from Rwanda who worked at the JBS plant in Louisville, K.Y. UFCW Outreach has created a scholarship in Zachee’s honour. UFCW mourns the loss of Sister Zachee, and all trans lives lost this year.
For Trans Week of Awareness, take action to stand in solidarity with your trans UFCW siblings, and fight the wave of transphobia.
What can you do?
- You can take action and let your voice be heard by joining one of Momentum Canada’s Actions to protect trans rights.
- Learn more about UFCW actions to support 2SLGBTQIA+ workers by joining UFCW OUTreach. Access resources and post these at your workplace.
- Access UFCW Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ resources and learn how to best protect the rights of trans members with CLC’s Workers in Transition Guide.
