At the Meeting of the ASH Board of Directors on Monday, September 27, 2021 a motion was unanimously approved that ASH endorse the statement below from from the Ottawa Coalition To End Violence Against Women, Elizabeth Fry Society, Kind Space, Wisdom2Action, and the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity.
Statement: Creating a Safer Ottawa for Trans & 2SLGBTQ+ People
Trans, gender diverse, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities are subjected to significant violence in Ottawa and across Canada. Despite progress on 2SLGBTQ+ rights, the everyday realities of many in our communities are largely unchanged – too many in our communities live precariously, barely able to make ends meet. Many in our communities are houseless and living in poverty, harassed for existing as their authentic selves in our public spaces, and struggling to survive in a homophobic and transphobic world.
All governments have a role to play in advancing safety, security, and health for trans, gender diverse and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Our municipalities often have the most immediate and direct impact on our everyday lives. While the City of Ottawa has taken steps towards 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion and liberation, our municipality continues to shirk its role and responsibilities towards 2SLGBTQ+people.
It is time to prioritize justice, health, and safety for trans, gender diverse and 2SLGBTQ+ people in our city.
We call upon the City of Ottawa to:
- Publicly and unequivocally denounce anti-trans hate, rhetoric, and violence in the City Of Ottawa
- Respond to the recommendations identified in Wisdom2Action’s report Ottawa 2SLGBTQ+ Community Service Needs, Gaps, and Recommendations with a clear plan for implementation
- Create a designated 2SLGBTQ+ Secretariat within the City of Ottawa
- Establish a municipal 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Council with community members and representatives from local 2SLGBTQ+organizations, to inform and guide municipal efforts on2SLGBTQ+ health, safety, and rights