Canada’s unions stay committed to defend 2SLGBTQIA+ rights this IDAHOBIT 2026

On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia, Canada’s unions reiterate their commitment and longstanding solidarity in defence of 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, both in Canada and abroad.

“Attacks on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, and all human rights, have no place in just and democratic societies like ours,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “When Canada’s unions fight for dignity and respect in the workplace and in our communities, we fight for everyone. We will always relentlessly defend human rights as workers’ rights everywhere, on the job and in our communities.”

“The global IDAHOBIT 2026 theme recognizes the importance of justice for all as foundational to truly democratic societies.

In Canada, we’ve seen the impact to our democracy firsthand when conservative and right-wing politicians recklessly undermine the human rights of 2SLGBTQI+ people and other vulnerable communities in service of their anti-worker political agendas.

Most recently, governments in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Alberta have attempted to set a dangerous precedent of restricting human rights through the indiscriminate use of notwithstanding clause, the same provincial tactic used to force Albertan teachers back to work in the fall of 2025.

Using this loophole, these governments are shamefully pushing legislation they know violates the charter-protected human rights of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. They are deliberately using the human rights of their own constituents as scapegoats to try to divide communities. Unions are calling it out for what it is: a right-wing tactic designed to distract us from their economic mismanagement and the reality that while these policies do nothing to address the worsening affordability crisis, it is ultimately workers and their families, along with the most vulnerable amongst us, that are left to pay the price of deepening economic inequities.

“When we say an injury to one is an injury to all, that includes human rights,” said Bruske, “Canada’s unions are Workers United Against Hate, and we will proudly, loudly and boldly defend these principles—including 2SLGBTQI+ rights—as critical to the very foundation of our democracy.”

In response to rising global criminalization of 2SLGBTQI+ rights, freedoms and identities, and an emboldened anti-rights movement around the world, Canada’s unions also extend our advocacy agenda to the world stage. The CLC is proud to be united with our allies against hate and continues to lend our ongoing solidarity and support of 2SLGBTQI+ rights/SOGIE rights in international spaces like at the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women, and at the International Labour Organization.

“From coast, to coast, to coast, as well as across borders, our solidarity will never waver.” said Bruske.

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