Pride - Pride in Print - Western Region Pride Conference

Western Region Pride Conference



Fall 2001

Western Region Pride Conference

We held our first CAW Regional Pride Conference in Vancouver from October 12th to 14th, 2001. We had delegates registered from: airlines, retail, transportation, manufacturing, hospitality, office & professional, tele-communications, and gaming.

The conference was opened by Raj Dhaliwal, Director of Human Rights and Len Ruel, BC Area Director. We were given a Coast Salish Aboriginal welcome, and our keynote speaker was Joanne Ursino, National Vice-President for Equal Opportunity for the National Component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. Her speech was a patchwork quilt linking events from the bombing of the World Trade Centre (two unreportedly gay heroes were the Chaplain who died giving last rites to the Firefighters and one of the men who prevented the hijackers from crashing the fourth plane) -- to gaybashing (beating of a Chicago man out front of a police bar, the death of Matthew Shepard, teen suicide in Surrey to workplace harassment, to the sweeping changes that the Liberal BC government wants to make to dismantle the BC Human Rights Commission (including the firing of Commissioner Mary Woo Sims and the vicious media frenzy over transgender issues at the Commission). Sister Ursino also spoke about the Employment Equity Act, the Census, Statistics Canada's planned sexuality survey question, and the marriage bill. She also talked about new changes to her union's constitutional structure that will now ensure representation from equity-seeking groups. Sister Ursino's speech was thought-provoking and a great start to our conference.

Following the keynote speech conference participants mixed, mingled, and joined in a queer history exercise. At our opening event we were joined by delegates' families, as well as members of Multi-Union Pride (a Vancouver-based group that works on Pride issues and events).

Delegates participated in two workshops on confronting homophobia, understanding sexuality and gender identity (including trans issues), class and consumerism, and building for the future.

CAW LGBT members networked and strategized together all weekend. Congratulations to the Western Region Pride Caucus for a terrific organizing job and for the great turnout!!!

move mountains

One little push won't make
The mountain move.
Two little pushes won't make
the mountain move,
All of us pushing will make
the mountain move,
Let's move mountains together!
(adapted from Moving Mountains by Arlene Mantle)

CAW Constitutional Convention

The CAW Constitutional Convention took place in August 2001 in Quebec City. President Buzz Hargrove spoke about the importance of social unionism, and the need to continue to fight for the rights of all working people. Brother Hargrove made special mention of the gains of the LGBT community and the ongoing challenges to ensure that our rights are protected in the workplace.

The Convention document covered the breadth of our union work - from the challenges we face with the downturn in the auto sector, to the recent (and lengthy) strikes at Falconbridge, BC Transit and Buhler-Versatile, to our commitments to work with trade unionists in other countries (for example, support for land mine clearance in Mozambique), to our fight to improve employment standards in regions such as Newfoundland and Ontario, to environmental struggles (such as the clean up of the Sidney Tar Ponds which are exposing working families to dangerous toxins in their own backyards), to community activism ("taking part in Gay Pride activities from Vancouver to Winnipeg to Toronto to Halifax - one of the ways we work to advance human rights for all our members").

A Pride caucus held at the Constitutional Convention was well attended - we now have a considerable number of out gays and lesbians elected as local union presidents, recording secretaries, financial officers, etc. It is so important that our voices find their way into the formal democratic structures of our union.

Convention documents are available on the CAW homepage: www.caw.ca.

Upcoming CAW Bargaining Convention

The CAW Collective Bargaining & Political Action Convention takes place every three years. At this Convention we develop our collective bargaining position as well our political action priorities for the coming three years. Delegates vote on a Collective Bargaining Report and a Political Action report developed by elected leadership and staff.

The next CAW Bargaining Convention will take May 7th - 10th, 2002 in Toronto. Delegates to this Convention are elected directly by local unions. Anyone can stand. Elections take place every three years. If you want to become a Convention delegate, find out when the next round of elections is taking place in your local, and find out what is involved.

You could also talk to your local union delegates who have been elected, to make sure they will support any LGBT positive resolutions which come forward. Resolutions must be submitted by a local union; the deadline for resolutions is March, 2002.

Welcome to the world!

baby baby

These two bundles of joy belong to one of our CAW members in Manitoba, where same-sex adoption language has yet to be passed by the NDP government. That means Mom Margaret doesn't have legal rights to her own children, and can't currently exercise rights that other parents can have through adoption. Same-sex adoption rights exist in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland - but not in Manitoba, PEI, or New Brunswick. British Columbia is considering legislation that would allow same-sex partners to register as parents at birth (and then not have to adopt their own children) - this would give same-sex couples the same rights as opposite-sex couples who use alternative insemination. Both adoption language and registration rights are needed to legally protect our families.

Write to your local MPP / MLA or Premier to demand equal rights for lesbian and gay parents, and while you're at it write to Gary Doer, Manitoba's Premier, too (Honourable Gary Doer, Legislative Building, 450 Broadway, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0V8, telephone: (204) 945-3714, fax: (204) 949-1484.

"Homophobia is like racism and anti- Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood. . . I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people."
- Coretta Scott King


Teachers' Unions take bold steps

Recent studies show that nearly 90% of high school seniors witness harassment of gays and lesbians at their schools. And, lesbian and gay teens continue to have the highest suicide rate. (Amazingly, the mother of a teen in Surrey who committed suicide over homophobia has been banned by the Surrey school board from talking publicly about her son's death).

Congratulations to the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario who overwhelmingly passed a resolution on August 15th, 2001 to lobby school boards to include LGBT material in school curriculum. Teachers know that students are most successful when they feel safe, secure and valued at school. Not surprisingly, the unions' move to teach respect and challenge hatred has met with some backlash.

A new publication called "Challenging Homophobia in Schools" has recently been produced by GALE (Gay and Lesbian Educators of British Columbia). This is a K to Grade 12 resource binder with excellent material for teachers, counsellors, and group leaders to aid in the support of, and education about LGBT youth and families. Check out their web page at www.galebc.org or call (604) 684-9872 for more information.

Gay Games Comes
To Montreal 2006
By Stephanie Johnstone

On October 17th 2001, I flew to Johannesburg, South Africa to attend and represent IGBO (International Gay Bowling Organization) at the annual meeting for the Federation of Gay Games. One of the many issues resolved at this meeting was the Site Selection to host Gay Games VII in 2006. There were four cities bidding (Atlanta, Chicago, LA and Montreal) and I am happy to report that Montreal, Canada will be the host for Gay Games VII in the year 2006.

The Gay Games is a quadriennial athletic and cultural event which brings together people from around the world. Based on the principles of inclusion and participation, the Gay Games welcomes all people without regard to their sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, political belief, physical ability, athletic/artistic ability, or HIV status. There are no minimum standards to qualify for the Gay Games; the only requirement is the desire to support the ideals of the Games. When accepting the Gay Games' challenge to reach for one's personal best in sporting, artistic, and cultural activities, all Gay Games participants become winners.

By creating a safe and accepting environment, the Gay Games offers participants the opportunity to express themselves openly and to experience the camaraderie and validation of sport, culture, and art. The experience can be a highlight in one's lifetime. While individually, participants celebrate personal achievement, collectively, we experience the solidarity of community and celebrate the diversity and scope of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. Through the athletic and arts/cultural events of the Games, stereotypes are challenged and barriers broken down.

Gay Games I was started by Dr. Tom Waddell (a former Olympian from the Mexico Olympics. Dr. Tom has since passed away from AIDS) and was held in San Francisco 1982 with 1600 athletes in attendance. The Gay Games II was also in San Francisco in 1986 with 3500 athletes competing in 17 sports and the addition of cultural events. In 1990 Gay Games III moved on to Vancouver BC Canada where they had 9500 participants. Gay Games IV went to New York in 1994 with 11,000 participants competing in 31 sports and cultural events. It was the largest sporting event in the world. Gay Games V 1998 moved across the ocean to Amsterdam hosting 14,700 participants of which 42% were women. Gay Games VI (to be held next year in Sydney Australia) is hoping to have over 14,000 participants with 50% woman. They have 12 cultural events and 31 sporting events. With still a year to go over 6,000 people have already registered for the Games.

At the 1998 Gay Games in Amsterdam the 1st Workers Out Conference. This was the first international gathering of LGBT trade unionists. Sue Genge (CLC), Carrol Anne Sceviour (OFL), and myself facilitated a workshop together. The 2nd Workers Out Conference will take place in Sydney, along with 5 other conferences (including 1st LGBT Aboriginal Peoples Conference, a conference on health issues for LGBTs, and a conference on Hate Crimes And Violence toward LGBT's) and 12 Cultural Events.

I hope this short article will give you a little insight into the Gay Games and I hope to see some of you in Sydney 2002 or maybe Montreal 2006. Everyone receives a medal for participating and doing their personal best. There is also Gold, Silver and Bronze for the top 3 positions in each event.

Reminder about upcoming National Conference
Our next National Working with Pride Conference will take place on April 19-21, 2002 in Port Elgin, Ontario. Call letters will be sent out early in the new year. Stay tuned...

Mailing List If you would like to be on the mailing list for this newsletter, please contact Diane Negrin in the CAW Human Rights Department (1-800-268-5763). Our mailings go to LGBT members, our allies, and local union Human Rights Committees. The mailing list is kept confidential.

Newsletter feedback
We need help putting together this newsletter. If you would like to contribute ideas for future editions of Pride in Print, please send in your suggestions, articles, photographs, poetry, cartoons, legal questions, news bites, reports on events and happenings, etc. to: Pride in Print, c/o Sue Carter, National Representative, CAW, 205 Placer Court, Toronto, ON M2H 3H9 (or email us at cawpride@caw.ca). Or call us at 1-800-268-5763.

PRIDE T- Shirts

CAW LGBT activists called for Pride t-shirts and (voila!) they've arrived. The t-shirts are black with the new Pride logo on the front and the black & pink triangle on the sleeve. T-shirts are $15.00 each and are available through the Port Elgin tuck shop, the caucuses, or by calling 1-800-268-5763 and asking for the workroom (shipping charges may apply). T-shirts are available in small, medium, large, extra-large and XXL. Activists, allies, and leadership are encouraged to purchase t-shirts, and wear them with pride - visibility and education are the cornerstones of our movement!

Recent books on LGBT issues:

Out at Work: Building a Gay-Labor Alliance
edited by Kitty Krupat and Patrick McCreery, University of Minnesota Press, 2001. This is a collection of essays by American trade unionists and LGBT activists, including AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.

Same-sex marriage: Pros and Cons
edited by Andrew Sullivan, Vintage Press, 1999. This is a collection of essays that explores same-sex marriage from a number of perspectives: left-wing writers, religious commentators, conservatives and LGBT activists all line up to give their views.

Laboring for Rights: Unions & Sexual Diversity Across Nations
edited by Gerald Hunt, Temple University Press, 1999. A collection of essays tracing the development of LGBT activism within unions, and labour's response to such issues as same sex benefits, anti-discrimination language and anti-homophobia education. Countries discussed include Canada, the United States, Germany, Britain, France, thee Netherlands, South Africa and parts of the South Pacific.

TransLiberation
by Leslie Feinberg, 1999. This book explores issues of transgender equality and difference in personal, political, historical and theoretical terms. It is a tremendous resource and offers explicit challenges and questions for the broader gay community.

Eating Fire: Family Life on the Queer Side
by Michael Riordan, 2001. This brand new book includes interviews with LGBT Canadians about their relationships and families. This is from the same author who wrote Out Our Way: Gay and Lesbian Life in the Country.

"When I dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision - then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid"
- Audre Lorde, feminist lesbian activist poet and writer


Oshawa & East Area Caucus (also includes parts of Toronto and Peterborough) Contact through Local 222, (905)723-1187 ext. 226 or e-mail: lgbtoshawa@hotmail.com The Oshawa Caucus has been working hard to get up and running, and thanks to all those people who have supported us since our initial meeting.

We will be holding an Understanding Sexuality & Confronting Homophobia workshop on Dec. 8, 2001. We welcome and encourage anyone in the Oshawa and surrounding area who would like to attend to call (905) 723-7055 and register.

Golden Horseshoe Regional LGBT Caucus
Contact us at LGBT@Gay.com, or by calling (905) 845-2511 ext.2154.

London & Area Pride Caucus
Contact us through the CAW London Office (519) 433-7211 ext. 227 also by P.O. BOX 35091 London ON N5W 5M0 or by e-mail cawpride@yahoo.ca

Windsor & Area Pride Caucus - In October some caucus members attended a conference hosted by AIDS Committee of Windsor, titled: A Multi-disciplinary Approach To HIV Prevention Programs for Youth. It was informative and a great way for us to interact with people from different organizations in our community. Caucus meetings are going well and are every third Wednesday of the month, 8:00pm. Any CAW LGBT member welcome, come check us out. Contact us through the CAW Regional Office - 519-944-5866 (Ask for Marg Clare's office) or
e-mail - lgbtcawwindsor@yahoo.ca.
Web site - www.geocities.com/caw_lgbt_caucus.

Western Region Pride Caucus
Contact us through the CAW Regional Office at 1-800-665-3553, or by e-mail:
cawpridebc@hotmail.com

We would also like to congratulate the BC Area for a very successful regional conference.

WAY TO GO!!!

CAUCUS CORNER

CAW LGBT activists organize through regional caucuses. Caucuses organize Pride day events, work with community groups, run workshops on homophobia, and provide support to members.

Listed are contact numbers for each of the caucuses that are currently active. If you want information on how to start a caucus in your area, please contact the National Union, at 1-800-268-5763 extension 479, or by e-mail:
cawpride@caw.ca.

pride parade

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