Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: The LGBTQ+ Workers Role in Toronto's Labour Movement

As Labour Day approaches, we often reflect on the hard-won rights and protections that define our modern workforce. From the fight for the eight-hour day to the establishment of fair wages, the labour movement has always been about collective action for a better future. But within this broad narrative, there's a vital, often overlooked, thread: the profound and ongoing contributions of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly here in Toronto and across Canada.

Toronto, a city celebrated for its diversity and progressive values, has been a crucible for LGBTQ+ rights. Yet, the path has been far from easy. For decades, many LGBTQ+ individuals faced systemic discrimination, not just in their personal lives, but profoundly within the workplace. Openly gay, lesbian, or trans individuals could be denied employment, promotions, or even fired without recourse. The threat of exposure, harassment, and violence loomed large, forcing many into the shadows and denying them the fundamental dignity of secure and equitable work.

A History of Resilience and Resistance: The Courage of John Damien

Historically, LGBTQ+ workers have always been part of the labour movement, though often invisibly. During the 1970s and 80s, as the gay liberation movement gained momentum, a new era of visible activism began to intersect with labour struggles. Here in Toronto, we saw early and courageous efforts by LGBTQ+ activists within unions to push for non-discrimination clauses and greater inclusivity. While progress was slow, these pioneers laid the groundwork for future advancements.

A stark example of the blatant discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ workers, and a pivotal moment in Canadian history, is the case of John Damien. In 1975, Damien, a respected senior horse-racing judge at Toronto's Woodbine Racetrack for the Ontario Racing Commission, was fired solely because he was gay. This brazen act of discrimination sparked outrage and galvanized the nascent gay rights movement. Damien courageously fought his dismissal, taking his case to the Human Rights Commission and beyond. While he tragically passed away in 1986 before his personal legal battle reached its conclusion, his fight was instrumental. It shone an undeniable spotlight on systemic prejudice and was a significant catalyst for change.

Another significant turning point came with the AIDS crisis, which tragically highlighted the vulnerabilities of the LGBTQ+ community and galvanized further advocacy. Unions, many of which had initially been resistant or silent, began to recognize the urgent need to address the health and safety of their LGBTQ+ members. This period saw the formation of LGBTQ+ caucuses within unions, advocating for better benefits, anti-discrimination policies, and a more inclusive environment.

Canada: A Global Leader in LGBTQ+ Workers Rights

Canada has often been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights, both nationally and on the world stage. The pressure from cases like John Damien's and relentless advocacy efforts led to groundbreaking legislative changes. In 1986, the Ontario Human Rights Code was amended to include "sexual orientation" as a prohibited ground for discrimination, making Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada, and one of the very first in the world, to enshrine such protection into law. This was a monumental step, providing crucial legal recourse against employment discrimination.

Following this, the federal government added sexual orientation to the Canadian Human Rights Act in 1996. Canada also became one of the first countries globally to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide in 2005. More recently, in 2017, the federal government further cemented its leadership by adding gender identity and gender expression to the Canadian Human Rights Act, providing vital protections for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, again placing Canada among the leading nations in comprehensive human rights legislation.

These legal milestones have undeniably transformed the landscape for LGBTQ+ workers. Today, in Toronto, many workplaces proudly boast diversity and inclusion initiatives. Pride Toronto is a massive annual celebration, and many corporations and public institutions are visible allies. We see a growing number of openly LGBTQ+ individuals in leadership roles, union positions, and across various sectors.

Legal Milestones and Ongoing Challenges

However, the reality is still nuanced. While explicit discrimination may be less common in some professional settings, subtle biases, microaggressions, and the "glass ceiling" remain. Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, in particular, continue to face significant barriers to employment and often experience higher rates of harassment and discrimination. Data from Egale Canada Human Rights Trust shows that trans individuals still experience disproportionately high rates of unemployment and underemployment.

Furthermore, economic precarity disproportionately affects segments of the LGBTQ+ community. Youth homelessness, often a result of family rejection, can trap young LGBTQ+ individuals in cycles of poverty, making stable employment a distant dream. Racialized LGBTQ+ individuals also face intersectional discrimination, navigating both racism and homophobia/transphobia in the workplace.

Toronto's Unions: A Mixed but Moving Picture

In Toronto, many unions have become strong advocates for their LGBTQ+ members. Organizations like the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) have established active LGBTQ+ committees and caucuses. They champion inclusive collective agreement language, advocate for gender-affirming care benefits, and organize educational initiatives to combat homophobia and transphobia in the workplace.