Statement: There’s no Gender Equality Without Trans Women

“There’s no Gender equality without trans women”: National coalition of community organizations

March 8 2023

Lisez cette déclaration en français

OTTAWA – On International Women’s Day 2023, hundreds of community organizations from across Canada have signed a statement declaring that gender equality cannot be achieved without supporting, celebrating, and uplifting trans women. Canada has seen rising hate against trans communities, and particularly against trans women, but trans women deserve our respect and care – in addition to concrete government action to address anti-trans hate.

Today, hundreds of organizations – both individual organizations and major national networks – have joined together to declare that ‘there’s no gender equality without trans women’. On International Women’s Day, advocates across the country have joined together to celebrate women in all their diversity.

While far right and hate-based movements have surged, trans communities have been under attack. But today, and every day, we must stand together to protect the wellbeing of trans folks, and particularly trans women – especially trans women of colour.

Concrete action is needed, now more than ever, to keep trans communities safe and protected. The national coalition has endorsed the following calls to action to address anti-trans hate:

• We call upon the Government of Canada to ensure that trans communities are included in the forthcoming National Action Plan to Combat Hate, and supported with dedicated resources allocated to fighting anti-trans hate
• We call upon civil society organizations across Canada to accelerate efforts to affirm, engage, employ, and uplift trans and gender diverse people
• We call upon all feminists to proclaim that feminism must be trans-inclusive, and that there’s no gender equality without trans women

This latest campaign comes as a follow up to the Trans-Inclusive Feminism Campaign launched by the CCGSD, Wisdom2Action, and Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights in 2021.

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STATEMENT SIGNATORIES

National organisations are listed in bold. 

RDP PRIDE on Campus

Regina Pride Inc. (Queen City Pride Festival)

Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG)

Regroupement féministe du Nouveau-Brunswick

Rise Women’s Legal Centre

Saige Community Food Bank

Saskatchewan Federation of Labour

Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union

SEIU Healthcare

Sexuality Education Resource Centre of Manitoba

SHORE Centre

SOFIA House

South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario

Spectrum (Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space)

Stratford-Perth Pride

Syndicat de professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec

Ten Oaks Project

The 519

The AIDS Committee of Durham Region

The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough

The Enchanté Network

The Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity

The Landing

Toronto Neighbourhood Centres

Trans Sask

Trans Support NL

Trans Wellness Initiative

Trans Wellness Ontario

TransCare+

TRAPs Quebec

Trent Queer Collective

UFCW Canada

Unifor

University of Lethbridge Q-Space

UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity Inc

USSU Pride Centre

UVic Pride Collective

WAVAW Rape Crisis Center

West Coast LEAF

Women Transforming Cities

Women’s Legal Education & Action Fund (LEAF)

Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network

Women’s Shelters Canada

Women’s Network PEI

WomenatthecentrE

YWCA Banff

YWCA Cambridge

YWCA Edmonton

YWCA Halifax

YWCA Hamilton

YWCA NWT

YWCA Regina Inc

YWCA Saskatoon

YWCA St. John’s

YWCA St. Thomas Elgin

YWCA Toronto