May 30 2025
Pride Month celebrates people who are Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and others with diverse genders and sexualities (2SLGBTQIA+). Though celebrated at different times across Canada, June 1 kicks off the official start to the Pride season. The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) wishes everyone a happy Pride Month and celebrates alongside 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Fierté Canada Pride hosts a list of Pride celebrations across Canada. We encourage members to find the closest celebration to them and support 2SLGBTQIA+ people in their communities.
While a celebration of 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and cultures, pride originated as a protest and a push for liberation. To this day, 2SLGBTQIA+ people face discrimination and hatred based on their sexuality and/or gender identity. We see that discrimination and hatred in the legislation in Alberta and Saskatchewan that targets transgender and gender-diverse youth and athletes. But its also evident in the fact that 2SLGBTQIA+ people have worse employment prospects, are at higher risk of experiencing homelessness, and are more likely to have poor mental health than those not part of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
While we celebrate Pride, we must also commit to standing with 2SLGBTQIA+ people and ending hate and intolerance in our society.
Resources
- NUPGE’s backgrounder on transgender and gender-diverse rights
- Queer Momentum’s Action Centre
- Egale’s Rainbow Action Hub
- Egale’s 2SLGBTQI resources
- The Enchante Network’s resources
- The Yellowhead Institute’s briefs on gender and generational justice
- 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations research
- The Community-Based Research Centre’s projects and initiatives, including the Two-Spirit program
- Trans Youth Message Guide