Today as we mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we recognize this day as critical to our work in the promotion of equality, social justice, rights and dignity for all people.
We acknowledge the gains made on both the global and domestic stage to ensure that all people have the right to live free from violence, discrimination and coercion. We celebrate LGBTQ2+ activists who have been and continue to be on the front lines leading the charge to end transphobia and homophobia in all its forms. These gains include the passing of the historic Bill C-16 which adds gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in Canada, the legalization of equal marriage in Malta, and the ruling that homophobic laws are unconstitutional in Trinidad and Tobago.
Although these gains are huge, we still have a long way to go to ensure all LGBTQ2+ people live free from violence and discrimination. This is especially the case for people who experience intersecting oppressions and structural violence such as Indigenous, Black and racialized queer and trans people. Today and every day, we celebrate the resilience, power and beauty of the LGBTQ2+ communities and the legacy of trans- and queer-led organizing and community building in the broader struggle for justice and liberation for all.