Ken Neumann Statement for Pride Month

In June this year, Steelworkers from all across Canada join with LGBT communities to celebrate Pride Month.

In joining Pride Month celebrations, a part of our union’s contribution is sponsoring “Same Difference” a film at the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival.

As a union dedicated to social justice, we have always supported equality-seeking groups in our union, our workplaces, and in society. With specific regards to equality for LGBT communities, we applaud Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Since 2015, these provinces have extended their human rights laws to explicitly include “gender expression” and “gender identity” as protected grounds.

Representing our membership in workplaces, it is notable that between 2015 and now, the union has supported four cases of transitioning as related to gender identity and gender expression.

Improvement in protections for LGBT members is also reflected within our union itself. At the last International Convention in August 2014, the ground of “gender identity” was added to the USW Constitution as a further ground of civil and human rights protection.

I urge you to:

• Take part in Pride Month activities in your community.
• Attend media events related to LGBT issues, and if possible, attend the screening of “Same Difference” at 5.15 p.m. on June 3^rd at the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival. Show Steelworker solidarity by wearing an item of Steelworker clothing if you attend.
• Elect or support a Human Rights Committee to ensure the employer’s compliance with updated human rights legislation.
• Support the NDP in continuing our fight for equality at the federal and provincial levels of government.

In solidarity,

Ken Neumann
National Director

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