A Message from the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and the Public Service Pride Champion
We are very happy to wish you a great Public Service Pride Week! During this week, we all come together to celebrate the resilience, spirit, contributions and diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirit (LGBTQ2+) public servants from coast to coast to coast.
This is a week of celebration but also one of reflection, with the world’s attention increasingly focused on equity and justice for marginalized communities. We should remember that it was the courage of Black and racialized trans women that triggered the 1969 New York City Stonewall riots, leading not only to the 1971 “We demand” manifesto for LGBT civil rights protections here in Canada but also to what we know today as the global LGBTQ2 movement.
The public service is a place for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression. Diversity and inclusion lead to innovation, and these qualities are essential to who we are as an organization. We must continue to demonstrate respect for one another and to foster a diverse and inclusive culture.
We invite you to join in on the many virtual celebrations that are planned this week across more than 50 federal departments and agencies and to show your pride and support by using #PSPW2020 on social media. We also encourage you to consider taking action through your department’s diversity and inclusion committee or health and wellness committee and to learn more through the following resources:
- Diversity and inclusion in the public service
- LGBTQ2 Secretariat
- Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+)
- Positive Space Ambassadors
As public servants, we have a responsibility to learn from one another, grow together and further the public good. Whether a member of the LGBTQ2+ community or an ally, we all have a role to play in making the public service safe and inclusive for all.
Happy Public Service Pride Week!
Ian Shugart, Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
Catherine Blewett, Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet
Jason Bett, Public Service Pride Champion