The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) unites unequivocally with trans, non‑binary, intersex, two‑spirit and additionally gender-diverse people across Ontario and Canada. We reject all forms of discrimination and reaffirm our commitment to building a province where every worker can live, learn, and work in safety and dignity.
Across the country, we are witnessing a deeply troubling rise in policies, rhetoric, and coordinated campaigns that target gender‑diverse people, especially young people. These attacks are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader pattern of political scapegoating that seeks to roll back human rights and undermine the safety of marginalized communities.
Recent developments in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick including restrictions on pronoun use in schools, limits on gender‑affirming care, and policies that endanger the privacy and safety of trans youth, represent a dangerous escalation. These measures have been widely condemned by human rights experts, educators, medical professionals, and community advocates who warn that such policies fuel stigma, increase violence, and put lives at risk.
International experts are sounding the alarm. The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention recently warned of early‑stage genocidal patterns emerging in anti‑trans legislation and rhetoric in the United States. These warnings must be taken seriously. History has shown that when discrimination is normalized it can escalate rapidly. Canada is not immune to this.
Ontario is already feeling the effects. Gender‑diverse workers and students are reporting increased harassment, fear, and hostility. Organized protests targeting 2SLGBTQIA+ rights have emboldened hate groups and created unsafe conditions in schools, workplaces, and communities. Trans rights are workers’ rights. Human rights are non-negotiable. When any group of workers is targeted, the labour movement will respond. You come after one of us, you come after all of us!
The Ontario Federation of Labour and affiliates call on the Ontario government, school boards, employers, and all public institutions to:
- Uphold and strengthen protections for trans, non‑binary, intersex, two‑spirit and additionally gender-diverse people.
- Reject any policy or legislation that undermines gender‑affirming care, privacy, or safety.
- Ensure workplaces and schools remain inclusive, affirming, and free from discrimination.
- Actively counter misinformation and hate that threaten the well‑being of gender‑diverse communities.
The labour movement has always been at its strongest when we defend those who are targeted and marginalized. We will continue to fight for equity, justice, and safety for all workers, and we will not allow fear or hatred to divide us.
To every trans, non‑binary, intersex, two‑spirit and additionally gender-diverse person in Ontario: You belong. You deserve safety. You deserve dignity. You deserve a future free from discrimination. The OFL sees you. The labour movement sees you. Today and every day.
CALL-TO-ACTION
The issues are urgent. Rising hate, erasure of queer and trans lives, and rollbacks in health care, education, and housing are threatening the safety and dignity of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities across the province, the nation and worldwide.
An action you can take immediately:
- Download, print, and circulate the OFL Petition to Protect and Expand Access for 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities (English & French versions). Note: the Ontario Legislature only accepts original signed paper petitions. No scans, photos, or electronic signatures. Send completed petitions to: Ontario Federation of Labour, 895 Don Mills Road, Tower Two, Suite 600, Toronto, ON M3C 1W3 (originals only, no photocopies please).
CP/ams/Cope343
