November 20 is a day to remember those killed because of the hatred or fear of transgender people. It is also a time to consider the harassment and discrimination trans people face, and what we must do to eliminate it.

CUPE 960 will be at the Trans Flag raising ceremony tomorrow, November 20th at 1:00 outside City Hall. We will also be at 2013 Event tomorrow evening: 

PFLAG Canada Durham Region in partnership with Your SA - The Student Association at Durham College and UOIT (Outreach Services) present 2013's Trans Day of Remembrance Durham Region 

There will be speakers, performances, refreshments and lots of opportunity to learn more about the trans community and how you can support the trans community and individuals.

Come and show your support!

"The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgendered people, an action that current media rarely performs. TDOR publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. TDOR reminds non-transgendered people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. TDOR gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who’ve died by anti-transgender violence" 

Please read the following letter from CUPE National: 

A recent survey showed that one in five trans Ontarians over the age of 16 have been the targets of physical or sexual assault and another one in three have experienced verbal harassment or threats. High rates of suicide and attempted suicide prevail in the transgender community.

Trans rights are human rights. Trans people still struggle for the same rights most of us take for granted: a safe place to live and work, access to safe public washrooms and change rooms, identity documents that match their gender, to be called by their chosen name, and to express their sense of self freely in what they wear and how they interact with others.

For more than a decade now, CUPE has been a leader among Canadian unions in championing trans rights. CUPE has developed bargaining resources, negotiates and enforces contract language protecting trans rights, educates members, raises public awareness about transphobia, supports research, and lobbies for legislative change and improved access to health care.

Our union also provides training and support for trans and other LGBTTI activists to become leaders. In July of this year, a CUPE delegation took part in the Human Rights Conference at the 2013 World OutGames in Antwerp, Belgium. Our representatives did a presentation on transphobic harassment and discrimination in employment and health care that featured the personal experiences of Martine Stonehouse, Audrey Gauthier, and Deidra Roberts, three trans activists who sit on the National Pink Triangle Committee.

What can you and your local do to protect and promote trans rights?

• Learn more about trans issues. See the CUPE backgrounder and presentation at cupe.ca/lgbtti.
  
• Check out educational resources like the documentary film Transfixed at transfixedfilms.com and the CLC’s Workers in Transition guide at clc-ctc.ca.
• Consider trans members’ needs at the next round of bargaining. Check out language in CUPE’s Bargaining Equality guide at cupe.ca/bargeq.
• If your province’s human rights act does not already list gender identity and gender expression as grounds for discrimination and harassment, partner with community groups lobbying to make the change.
• Contact your MP or Senator to push for the revival and adoption of the federal private member’s bill C-279 to add explicit protection against discrimination and hate crimes based on gender identity to the Canadian Human Rights Act and theCriminal Code of Canada.

Together, we can ensure that every member of our diverse communities feels safe and welcome.

In solidarity and pride,

Paul Moist
National President

Charles Fleury
National Secretary-Treasurer

At the October 2013 General Membership meeting, our 2013-2015 Strategic Plan was discussed and implemented. The entire report is available here.

Here are some highlights!

Our Overall Vision:

Mission Statement

To enrich the lives of our members and working people everywhere.

Vision

 As recognized leaders within the Labour Movement, Local 960 will:

·         Cultivate a culture of solidarity

·         Demand security, dignity, and respect for our members

·         Mobilize our membership, and

·         Impact public policy that effects social and economic change to benefit working people

Objectives and Initiatives

To foster honesty and trust in the understanding that we are here to work together for the common good of YOU - our membership. To improve communications and professionalism between our membership and management that will foster and maintain continual improvements in our working environment and opportunities. To promote fairness and integrity in how management treats our members in all aspects of employment at the Oshawa Public Libraries. To be the collective voice of our members in representing them in conflicts with management and in policy changes. Strength in our membership only empowers us to have a larger role in our own destinies.


Read the Strategic Plan in it's entirety for more information!

PFLAG Canada Durham Region's Gender Neutral Restroom Challenge Nov
2013

November 1st 2013 – November 30th 2013

Durham Region + Where ever you are
The challenge: Don't use any gendered restrooms or change rooms for the month of November.

 
What are "gendered bathrooms"?
Gendered bathrooms are designated for "men" or "women" by a sign. This challenge includes
ALL gendered multi-stall and single-stall washrooms, and the bathrooms at work,
schools, libraries, bars/restaurants, and everywhere, really.

 
There are multiple purposes for this
challenge:
1) To give people who don't find going  to gendered bathrooms a difficult/unsafe experience a small idea of what it is
like for trans and gender variant people to navigate this world. Hopefully, with  some real life experience, you will have a broader understanding of how gendered this world really is. But, DOING THIS DOES NOT GIVE YOU AUTHORITY
TO SAY WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE TRANS OR GENDER VARIANT.

 
2) To inspire people to fight for more gender neutral bathrooms.
 
Tips:
- Don't drink a lot of
liquid if you are leaving the house for long periods of time
- Try to figure
out where some gender neutral bathrooms are in your town/city, and plan your day
around using a gender neutral bathroom.
- Remember, you can use gendered
bathrooms again in Dec. Some people can't.
 
And, even if you really have to go to the bathroom, try to not see gendered bathrooms as a possible place to go.
 
If you do have to use a Gender specific washroom - Donate $1.00 each time to PFLAG Durham Region (Keep track and donate at the end of the month) http://pflagdurhamregion.com/

 
We also recommend fighting for gender neutral bathrooms in one (or more) public space(s). Often the fight for this aspect of bathroom accessibility is only fought for by trans and gender variant people; It would be nice if other
people fought for it too. Any new bathroom can be listed on http://safe2pee.org/
 
Inspired by Jake Ely Feldman, Shay Enxuga
and PFLAG Durham Region, now it is your turn to also Inspire change!