IDAHOBIT2026

IDAHOBIT 2026: Taking a Stand Against Discrimination

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IDAHOBIT, or International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, is observed in over 130 countries around the world on May 17th since 2005. The date on which IDAHOBIT falls was chosen for a specific reason: it was the day when, in 1990, the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder. Prior to that, the WHO and the countries which used them as a torchbearer for health policy, classified homosexuality as a mental disorder. Imagine, if you would, telling a heterosexual person that their sexuality was a mental disorder. It sounds utterly ridiculous, doesn’t it? It is much the same to queer folks, be they homosexual, bisexual, transgender, or others within the rainbow coalition; our sexuality is NOT a mental disorder – it is the way we were born.The IDAHOBIT event didn't coalesce out of nothing: over 24,000 individuals and organizations agreed to make this happen. Organizations such as The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), The Coalition of African Lesbians, the World Congress of LGBT Jews, and others, signed on to the IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia) initiative as it was known at the time. In 2009 it expanded to IDAHOT (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) due to our Trans siblings being more acutely targeted with hateful violence and discrimination. Finally, in 2015, it was expanded yet again to IDAHOBIT which is the current acronym, in an attempt to fight bisexual erasure. In many countries around the world, same-sex relationships are still criminalized, and in some countries,…

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BBQ 2026: THANK YOU

Big Gay BBQ 6: THANK YOU!

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To everyone who attended our 6th annual Big Gay BBQ on Saturday, May 9, 2026: thanks to your support, we raised $1,000 for QMUNITY! The Unifor Local 111 Pride Committee started the Big Gay BBQ in 2021 just as a way to build solidarity within our local. We’ve kept it going because we saw how much many members appreciated the opportunity to be in a safe, accepting space where everyone is welcome! On Saturday (and in past years too) we welcomed members of other unions who also expressed their gratitude at being able to attend a fun, friendly, and inviting union event. The solidarity was strong. Our first Big Gay BBQ was on a sunny day in September 2021, but we decided to move it to May the next year and use it as an opportunity to raise awareness and support of something important to our community: International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia. This is celebrated globally on May 17 to mark the day in 1990 when homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization. Qmunity, the organization we often choose to support with donations, is a cornerstone organization in our community that does so much important work, from youth programs to seniors’ programs to legal assistance. Based in Vancouver, they work their hardest to spread their resources as much as possible across the province of BC. Once again, thank you to everyone for your support on Saturday and over the last six…

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Read more about the article Guest Essay: Transgender Day of Visibility

Guest Essay: Transgender Day of Visibility

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When I was four years old, I asked Grandma who took care of me if I could be a girl instead since this boy thing wasn't working out for me. She laughed warmly, and said "sure". But no matter how many times I put on her slippers, nothing changed. When I got dial-up internet access at the very end of the nineties, I learned people successfully transitioned and that Thailand was known for their surgeries -- if only I could afford it. It felt like a far away dream I would revisit once a year. In the meantime, I plodded onward never quite comfortable with myself. I did give it my best shot, but I was always awkward in my own skin. When I reached 28 years old, I was pretty upset about how life was going for myself. I stayed home from work on a reluctant mental health day off, and somehow stumbled on The Gender Rebels podcast. It was like a how-to guide on transitioning in the mid-2010's. I realized then that British Columbia had transition resources available as well, with THE SURGERY available in Quebec. I had months of hoops to jump through after obtaining a referral from my doctor. I nearly gave up on the prospect of receiving hormone therapy, resigning myself to the idea that I may just be stuck with social transition alone which was dysphoria-inducing daily. Finally, during a routine visit to the supervising specialist I received my prescription along with blood work.…

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Read more about the article Pink Shirt Day 2026

Pink Shirt Day 2026

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In 2007, in Berwick, Nova Scotia, after a new student at their school was bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt, two grade 12 students bought 50 pink shirts and encouraged their classmates to wear pink. The next day they went to distribute the shirts and to their surprise, the majority of the students arrived wearing pink! With that act kindness, Pink Shirt Day was born. In recognition of the Berwick event, Nova Scotia proclaimed the second Thursday of September “Stand Up Against Bullying Day”. In 2008, British Columbia proclaimed February 27th to be the provincial anti-bullying day, and the movement has continued to grow. In 2012, the United Nations declared May 4th as Anti-Bullying Day, and now the last Wednesday each February is Canada’s national Pink Shirt / anti-bullying day. Our local union has 4,000 or so members; we all at some point in our lives have experienced bullying. Be it a sexist comment, a misogynistic statement, racism, transphobia, homophobia or others. The work to end this is ongoing, and Pink Shirt Day is a day to show that no, bullying is not ok and that by wearing the shirt yes, you are a safe person for someone suffering from it to talk to. Stand up. Speak out. Stop bullying.

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Read more about the article International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, & Transphobia

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, & Transphobia

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May 17 marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) This date commemorates the decision in 1990 to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO). IDAHOBIT serves as a rallying point for global activism, uniting voices across more than 130 countries in the fight for equality, respect, and human rights for all.  Standing in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, Unifor proudly champions this journey towards equality and justice. As an ally, Unifor emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and advocates for the rights of all individuals, recognizing that love, identity, and expression should never be stigmatized. By supporting initiatives that promote awareness and acceptance, Unifor helps to create safer spaces where everyone can thrive without fear of discrimination.  In a landmark moment of progress for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, the American Psychiatric Association’s board of trustees made a historical decision on December 15, 1973, unanimously voting to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. This pivotal shift marked a significant acknowledgment of the dignity and validity of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance within society.  

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Read more about the article Pink Shirt Day 2025

Pink Shirt Day 2025

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In 2007 there was an incident of homophobic bullying in a Nova Scotian school. That event spurned kids, who barely knew the bullied child, to hand out and wear pink shirts in support of someone new to their school. Since then it’s been taken and brought to the public as a general awareness of bullying. Our local union has 4,000 or so members; we all at some point in our lives have experienced bullying. Be it a sexist comment, a misogynistic statement, racism, transphobia, homophobia or others. The work to end this is ongoing, and Pink Shirt Day is a day to show that no, bullying is not ok and that by wearing the shirt yes, you are a safe person for someone suffering from it to talk to. The history of Pink Shirt Day: In 2007, in Berwick, Nova Scotia, after a new student at their school was bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt, two grade 12 students bought 50 pink shirts and encouraged their classmates to wear pink. The next day they went to distribute the shirts and to their surprise, the majority of the students arrived wearing pink! With that act kindness, Pink Shirt Day was born. In recognition of the Berwick event, Nova Scotia proclaimed the second Thursday of September “Stand Up Against Bullying Day”. In 2008, British Columbia proclaimed February 27th to be the provincial anti-bullying day, and the movement has continued to grow. In 2012, the United Nations declared May 4th as Anti-Bullying Day, and now…

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Read more about the article Let’s End Bullying on Pink Shirt Day 2024

Let’s End Bullying on Pink Shirt Day 2024

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February 28 is Pink Shirt Day. Today we work to end all forms of bullying which includes misogyny, racism, homophobia and transphobia. Originally, Pink Shirt Day started as a result of homophobic bullying at school and has since expanded to fight bullying for any inherent human trait that may make someone different. Imagine being bullied for the colour and style of your clothes as a child. Or imagine being a member and any minor changes to make you feel safe are met with complaints and vandalism. So what does that mean for us? We’re about 4000 strong with a mix of different people coming from different backgrounds, making us collectively a diverse force for change. Not just for the membership but also for the community we work in. Wearing your pink shirt today will show that you support the end of bullying. History: In 2007, in Berwick Nova Scotia, after a new student at their school was bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt, two grade 12 students bought 50 pink shirts and encouraged their classmates to wear pink. The next day they went to distribute the shirts and to their surprise, the majority of students arrived wearing pink!  With that act of kindness, Pink Shirt Day was born. In recognition of the Berwick event, Nova Scotia proclaimed the second Thursday of September “Stand Up Against Bullying Day.” In 2008, British Columbia proclaimed February 27th to be the provincial anti-bullying day, and the movement has continued to grow. In 2012,…

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Read more about the article Let’s Talk About SOGI and TDOR

Let’s Talk About SOGI and TDOR

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The inclusion of SOGI education in Canadian schools has been a hot topic lately, and November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). Let's talk about these things, and how they relate. What Is SOGI? First of all, what does SOGI even mean? It stands for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Maybe you've seen or heard it referred to as "SOGI 123." The "123" has no meaning other than to imply that it's "as easy as 123." So why are we talking about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity? And why are we trying to make it seem easy?  Because everyone has a sexual orientation and a gender identity. Every. Person. On this planet. And it is easy. There are groups out there who are trying to make a mountain of this mole hill. They're trying to make it sound complicated and scary and difficult to understand. But if you understand that you are, for example, a straight man, then there's your sexual orientation (straight) and your gender identity (man) and that's all there is to it. It's that simple. Examples of Sexual Orientations: Straight (attracted to the opposite sex) Gay (attracted to the same sex; male) Lesbian (attracted to the same sex; female) Bisexual (attracted to more than one sex) Pansexual (attracted to all sexes) Asexual (not sexually attracted to anyone) Examples of Gender Identities: Cisgender Man (assigned male at birth; still identifies as male) Cisgender Woman (assigned female at birth; still identifies as female) Transgender Man (assigned female at…

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2023 Vancouver Pride Parade

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March with Unifor in the Vancouver Pride Parade on Sunday, August 6, 2023! Unifor’s staging location is G, on Davie Street between Denman and Bidwell. Access the staging area via westbound Davie at Thurlow. (Roads west of Thurlow and south of Robson will be closed.) The parade route is new this year, and almost 4km long. Participants must be able to march the entire route, as there are no midway exit points. We will not have a trailer this year, so please ensure you bring your own mobility aid, if required. Remember to wear sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and comfy shoes! Water will be available, but you can bring some too. We have new Pride t-shirts this year, and all attendees will receive one! Please RSVP at www.pride111.ca/signup by Friday, August 4 in order to receive the correct shirt size.

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