Johnston: Canada needs to do more to protect LGBTQ2+ rights

For the past five years, I have been thinking that the US and UK Just like the + problem is spiraling out of control. Opposition to transgender rights in the United Kingdomhas become a hot topic among prominent politicians and political commentators. Meanwhile, in the United States, state-level anti-LGBTQ2+ laws havesurged like never before. Canada's current administration has made some progress on her LGBTQ2+ issues in her seven-year tenure, but now is the time to double down on that effort.

If our government does not strengthen, LGBTQ2+ rights will be threatened and existing inequalities faced by LGBTQ2+ Canadians will be exacerbated by rising hate I am afraid that

Many of her LGBTQ2+ Canadians can now live and be proud, but still feel the weight of discrimination. We face harassment in the streets, hate-based crimes targeting our communities, and rejection from loved ones. Many homosexuals live with the trauma of homophobic and transphobic experiences. My community is riddled with poor mental health, poverty and homelessness.

The current situation is not good. I'm proud of her Canadian leadership on LGBTQ2+ issues, but my community still struggles. Despite previous progress, systemic inequalities and discrimination remain and are getting worse.

I have seen the plight of her LGBTQ2+ community in the US and UK. The hatred and violence that has struck their country breaks my heart.

Over the past seven years, the Canadian federal government has made significant progress regarding her LGBTQ2+ rights. This includes passing theban on conversion therapy and the transgender rights bill. A historic purge of LGBTQ2+ civil servants and members of the Canadian Armed Forces,invested in of her LGBTQ2+ nonprofits and charities.

But times are changing.

In 2015, I had many hopes. After Canada elected an LGBTQ2+ friendly federal government and marriage equality was passed in the U.S., it seemed like we had better times.Her LGBTQ2 people in North America and around the world , was at risk of unprecedented levels of acceptance and equality.

Currentlyincreased attacks on efforts to make schools more inclusive for LGBTQ2+ students; increased rates of hate crimes against LGBTQ2+ Canadians; More organized anti-LGBTQ2+ hate movements have increased than ever before. Since 2015, I have lost most of my optimism.

An early warning sign is that Canada could be headed in the wrong direction. In states and federally, right-wing fringe parties have adopted anti-LGBTQ2+ rhetoric. LGBTQ2+ activists are concerned that anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ2+ issues are gaining increasing mainstream media coverageUntil 2020, this should not be taken lightly.

Worse, I doubt our federal government is unaware. As hate grows, we have not expanded our national and international efforts on LGBTQ2+ inclusion and rights. In fact, the government is currently more than 200 days behind the federal government's long-awaited LGBTQ2+ action plan (promised within 100 days of the Liberal Party's new mandate if re-elected). The government put some money into her LGBTQ2+ charities and non-profits,but this was not enough to address the historic shortage. Sporadic investments hinder organizational growth. Fighting the rise of hate requires stable, sustainable, and predictable funding.

And while the federal government has failed to support anti-LGBTQ2+ legislation and hatred in the US and UK, LGBTQ2+ refugees continue to face barriers and delays. Facingthriving in Canada.

In her decade of LGBTQ2+ activism, she has never been more concerned about the state of our rights in Canada and around the world. I fear that our government is not paying attention. Now is not the time to rest on your laurels. Now is the time to extend Canada's leadership on LGBTQ2+ issues at home and abroad.

Fae Johnstone is an Ottawa-based transgender she is a 2SLGBTQ+ activist. She is Executive Her Director of consulting firm Wisdom2Action