Day of Trans Visibility – March 31

Dear Friends:

On the Day of Trans Visibility, the CCFA will fly the Trans Flag out our office window and on our office door in the Young building. That’s because the College doesn’t have enough flagpoles to fly flags for activism.

We also encourage you to attend the upcoming conference offered by our colleagues at UVIC: Moving Trans Rights History Forward here: https://www.uvic.ca/mthf2023/index.php

“Join community activists, academics, artists, and allies from around the globe for the fifth Moving Trans History Forward conference, among the largest of its kind. Share your voice and your history. Learn from others. Grow together. Make history! The Moving Trans History Forward conferences are not just for scholars, or just for community people. MTHF conferences are a unique blend that create opportunities for cross-fertilization among members of general public; students and faculty; artists; activists; Trans+ people; family members; allies; and service providers. Conferences consider both our history, and the crucial issues which impact us today, and into the future—locally, nationally, and globally.”

Please read and consider signing the following petition, which calls for the federal government to grant asylum to transgender and nonbinary people in Canada whose countries have eliminationist laws in their home countries. The petition closes for signatures on May 26, 2023. So far, it has garnered more signatures than any other petition on the Ourcommons.ca website. At the time of this post there were 145,954 signatures. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sign.

Petition to the House of Commons

Whereas:

• The world is becoming increasingly hostile to transgender and nonbinary individuals;
• Transgender and nonbinary people’s rights to live as themselves are being restricted and removed in many places;
• This includes the so-called “Western democracies” which have historically been presumed safe;
• The United Kingdom is revising their Equality Act to exclude trans people from its protections;
• More than a dozen American states have enacted or are considering legislation eliminating or criminalizing gender-affirming care; and
• Canada has prided itself on being an inclusive, tolerant, and welcoming society for everyone regardless of gender identity or gender expression.

We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to extend to transgender and nonbinary people the right to claim asylum in Canada by reason of eliminationist laws in their home countries, whatever country that may be.

https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4268

As a queer parent of gay and non-binary children, these laws chill me to my core and threaten mine and my children’s lives. Please help in any way you can. #nomorehate #transpeoplearepeople

What’s more, among many other important Obligations and Objectives, the Constitution of the CCFA charges us all to:

• To promote the health, safety, and well-being of the members
• To foster principles of social justice and sustainability in the local and global communities

Are you Trans or do you know someone who is? Here are a list of reputable resources to help educate and support you or the trans people in your life.

• The Human Rights Campaign, a US based non-profit organization; Transgender Day of Visibility Page
• Workplace Pride, an International Platform for LGBTIQ+ Inclusion at Work; Transgender Day of Visibility Page
• BC Gov News; Statement on Transgender Day of Visibility
• Queer Events (QE) is a Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ organization committed to working towards a strong, inclusive & accessible Queer community; Transgender Day of Visibility Page
• The Canadian Centre for Gender + Sexual Diversity is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to promote and protect the civil, political, economic, cultural, and social rights of all people and communities; Transgender Day of Visibility Page.
• Victoria Pride Society; Community Events
• Victoria Sexual Assault Centre; Information for Trans, Two-Spirit, and Gender Diverse Survivors
• FPSE Women & Gender Equity Standing Committee; Resource Guide

You can also contact me if you are interested in joining the CCFA Sponsored, Camosun College Committee for Women and Gender Equity, who, in conjunction with our Library Faculty & Staff, bring you events like the Red Dress Interactive Art Installation during the 16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence. But we need YOUR ideas and help to do more!

#loveislove