Justice and Public Safety
July 7, 2017
The following is being issued at the request of the Human Rights Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador:
Human Rights Commission Recognizes Pride Week 2017
The Human Rights Commission joins all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador in recognizing and celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. This year's Pride Week celebrations will take place July 10 - 17. For more information on Pride Week celebrations, please visit the St. John’s Pride facebook page at www.facebook.com/STJohnsPride or on twitter @STJohnsPrideNL #yytpride.
St. John's Pride has organized several events and activities throughout the week, including:
- July 12 - Trans Picnic at Harbourside Park at 12-2pm
- July 16 - Downtown Parade at 10am-2pm. This year's Pride Parade will also be streamed online on the CBC Newfoundland and Labrador Facebook page.
The Human Rights Act, 2010 protects individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. More information about amendments made to the act in 2013 to include gender identity and gender expression as protected grounds of discrimination can be found on the Human Rights Commission webpage at www.justice.gov.nl.ca/hrc/publications
Individuals seeking accommodation, potential complainants, and employers seeking to ensure workplace policies are in compliance with the Human Rights Act, 2010, may contact the Human Rights Commission staff for questions and concerns. Commission staff members are also available to deliver presentations and workshops regarding human rights protections for the LGBTQ community in Newfoundland and Labrador. Please visit www.thinkhumanrights.ca for more information on the Human Rights Commission.
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“The Human Rights Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador celebrates Pride Week 2017 in promoting equality, respect and inclusion for all. Many provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador, have amended human rights legislation to include gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination. The Canadian government, has also recently included gender and gender expression as a protected right and will soon be formally apologizing to LGBTQ+ Canadians who were purged from the military and public service because of their sexuality. However, much work remains. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians still experience discrimination and harassment because of their sexuality, gender expression or gender identity. Pride Week 2017 is an important time for people in this Province to consider ways in which they can support the LGBTQ+ community.”
Kim Mackay
Vice-Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission
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Media contact
Kim Mackay
Vice-Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Human Rights Commission
709-729-2709
humanrights@gov.nl.ca
2017 07 07 2:30 p.m.