During Pride, we celebrate the LGBTQ2S+ community and how far they have come in their struggle for equity and commit to supporting their journey towards inclusion. Pride is a time to commemorate the work of advocates that fought for progress and to value the contributions that LQBTQ2S+ individuals have made and continue make to our lives. We honour and appreciate the memory of the many queer rights advocates that have come before us. We take pride in our queer fellow workers as they take pride in their identities. And we celebrate how far we have come.
Though societal views have progressed over time through hard fought battles, it is important to acknowledge that members of the gender and sexually diverse community continue to face many barriers to this day. Queer folks continue to face bullying, harassment, and discrimination in schools and workplaces. LGBTQ2S+ youth are more than twice as likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBTQ2S+ youth and experience higher rates of suicide. Transgender women, especially transgender women of colour, are at higher risk of violence. And governments across the world continue to enact oppressive and discriminatory policies, legislating away basic human rights. Though we have come a long way since the Stonewall Riots in June of 1969 that began the modern queer rights movement, we must recognize that we have so much further to go.
AUPE commits to standing with members of gender and sexually diverse communities this month and every month. We recognize the strength and resilience of LGBTQ2S+ people and endeavor to support them in their struggle.