June is Pride Month — a time to celebrate the LGBTQ2S+ communities and all the strides they have made, but also a time to take action. Members of these communities still face serious challenges and we must all continue to work together to overcome them. While acceptance and inclusion in Canadian society has improved greatly over the years, there is still work to be done.
According to the 2018 Survey on Safety in Public and Private Spaces, gay, lesbian, bisexual and other sexually diverse people in Canada were almost three times more likely than heterosexual Canadians to report that they had been physically or sexually assaulted in the previous 12 months. They were also more than twice as likely as heterosexual Canadians to experience inappropriate sexual behaviours in public, online or at work.
This month is a reminder that we are all invited to be allies to one another. We must take an active role in always standing by anyone who is being discriminated against, or who is a victim of hateful speech or actions.
CAPE is committed to helping eliminate any barriers the communities face in the workplace, and we will continue to work toward equal access and rights to career advancement and job enrichment opportunities for all.
Let's make sure we leave no one behind and, whether you are a member of these communities or an ally, let's all work towards an inclusive and accepting society.
CAPE Reveals its New Pride Logo!
You may have noticed that CAPE has temporarily changed its logo on its website and social media to match the Pride colors. This is to signal CAPE’s full support for members of all identities in the communities. This logo will be displayed every June during Pride Month, from this year onward.
You may also have noticed that CAPE used a different version of colours from the classic rainbow flag. The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee of the National Executive Committee recommended that CAPE opt for this version by graphic designer Daniel Quasar, who added a five-coloured chevron to the original six-coloured rainbow flag, to make it more “inclusive and progressive.” The flag includes black and brown stripes to represent marginalized LGBTQ2S+communities of colour, along with the colours pink, light blue and white, from the Transgender Pride Flag. It is widely used now across Canada and in the federal public sector.
We encourage you to support the movement and show those colours proudly during Pride Month and every day!
