LGBT-Q TimelineIncreasing visibility and awareness, and challenging stereotypes over the years.
1859-1869 – Any homosexual activity was an offense, punishable by death.
1892 – Any male homosexual activity fell under the law of “gross indecency”
1969 – With Bill C-150’s passing, Pierre Elliot Trudeau decriminalized same-sex sexual activity
1971 – Ottawa had Gay Rights march, first one in Canada
1977 – Quebec Charter of Human Rights was amended to prohibit discrimination based on ‘sexual orientation’ in the public and private sectors – in employment, housing and certain services. This was the first jurisdiction in the world that was larger than a city, to make such legal rights. This year also saw an amendment to the Canadian Immigration Act that allowed homosexual men to immigrate to Canada.
1982 – Emergence of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Section 15 covers Equality Rights, however sexual orientation is left out.
1986 – Ontario Human Rights Code was amended to include sexual orientation as a prohibited ground for discrimination in employment, housing services and other activities. Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (Egale organization) Canada was created.
1989-- Denmark becomes the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex unions.
1991- The City of Toronto officially proclaims Pride Day for the first time.
1992 – Homosexuals are allowed to serve openly in the Canadian Forces
1993-- “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” becomes law after U.S. President Bill Clinton’s vow to end discrimination in the American military falters.
1994 – Refugee status could now be granted based on sexual orientation
1995 – Egan v. Canada- Supreme Court of Canada case that made sexual orientation explicitly included in Section 15 (Equality Rights) of the Charter. Discrimination based on sexual orientation was now illegal. Homosexual couples are now legally allowed to adopt children.
1998- Vriend v. Alberta: Case of an Alberta teacher, who challenged the Alberta Human Rights Act after he was fired from a school based on his sexual orientation. Based on the outcome of this case, discrimination based on sexual orientation is now protected by the provincial human rights act.
1999 - M. v. H. Supreme Court of Canada case that made it possible for homosexual couples to have the same rights as heterosexual couples in common-law relationships.
2000 – 68 amendments to federal statutes were made to grant equal rights to homosexual common-law couples including pension benefits, bankruptcy protection, income taxes, old age security and immigration.
2001-- Holland becomes the first country to extend marriage to same-sex couples; Belgium follows a year later.
2003--British Columbia and Ontario begin marrying same-sex couples.
2003 – Halpern v. Canada – Legal definition of marriage violated the equality rights set out in Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Ontario.
2004 – Crimes against homosexuals now constitute hate crimes, and have harsher penalties. 2005 Canada becomes the fourth country to officially sanction gay marriage nationwide.
Present – Sexual orientation is now included in all provincial human rights acts, however the North West Territories human rights act is the only one to include the term, “Gender Identity”.- https://sites.google.com/site/lgbtcurriculum/history
Legislation~ Protecting Human Rights
Introduction
The history of LGBTQ rights in Canada has been a slow struggle, but through legal cases and legislation, social movements, and advocacy in schools, the LGBTQ community is working towards being able to express themselves without fear of discrimination. This section will look at the historical background and progress in legislation on LGBTQ issues in the Canadian education system, identifying cases of children in both elementary and high school settings, struggling to belong and have their feelings respected and understood amongst their peers, teachers, and school community.
Bill 13- Accepting Schools Act (2012)
Bill 13- Accepting Schools Act (2012)
Amends the Education Act to ensure that “...all students should feel safe at school and deserve a positive school climate that is inclusive and accepting, regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status or disability”. This act makes it known that schools needs to be inclusive to all individuals, “including those of the LGBTQ community”.
What the Liberals are trying to do right now is amend the Education Act to include a new definition of Bullying. At the heart of the matter is the requirement under Bill 13 for all students, in Public and Catholic schools, to be taught Equity and Inclusive Education In Ontario Schools guidelines developed by the provincial Ministry of Education. Both Catholic and Public Boards are now required to develop and implement an equity and inclusive education policy and legislation would also require them to support activities or organizations that promote gender equity and promote the awareness and understanding of, and respect for, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, including organizations with the name Gay-Straight Alliance or another name.
Currently Bill 13 is going through its Second Reading Debate (Click Here to Read Bill 13: Accepting Schools Act). Amendments of Bill 13, the Accepting Schools Act, introduce a new concept of bullying and stronger wording and measures, especially regarding gay and lesbian issues, to prevent bullying-related incidents. Some amendments would include the promotion of “a healthy, safe and inclusive learning environment where all students feel accepted; students need to be equipped with the knowledge, skills, attitude and values to engage the world and others critically; making their schools and communities more equitable and inclusive for all people. Everyone — government, educators, school staff, parents, students and the wider community — has a role to play in creating a positive school climate and preventing inappropriate behaviour, such as bullying, sexual assault, gender-based violence and incidents based on homophobia.”
At issue with religious organizations seem to be amendments that many feel favour LGBTTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, transsexual, two-spirited, intersexed, queer and questioning), what many consider a very small percentage of the student population. Many religious parents firmly believe that sexual education, especially that which introduces young students to gay and lesbian issues, should be left out of the classroom. Many of them are signing an online petition (Click Here to see “Vote No to Bill 13″ Online Petition) to stop the McGuinty government from passing Bill 13 at the Legislature and making it a law.
- http://almalatina.ca/2012/04/13/bill-13/
Gender Identity Bill C-279 (2013)
Gender Identity Bill C-279 (2013)
The purpose of this bill is create safe spaces and equality for transgendered/transexual/intersex/two-spirited Peoples, who continuatally experience discrimination and violence on a daily basis. Provides for equal opportunity, and human rights protection for all people in Canada.
“If discrimination based on the gender identity of some prevents them from having an opportunity equal to that of other
individuals to make for themselves the life that they are able and wish to have, to the extent of being a source of prejudice and causing a strike against the human dignity of those individuals, such discrimination must become prohibited and in so doing guarantee the equality of rights pledged for all by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Safe Schools Improvement Act (2013)
Safe Schools Improvement Act (2013)
This act would amend the No Child Left Behind Act, involving anti-bullying policies.
The aim of the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) is to impliment an anti-bullying policy that includes a section that explicitly references sexual orientation and gener identity into their defiition for what constitutes harrassment and bullying.
How can such legislation be translated and applied in a classroom setting?