Purpose:

The purpose of the Gender and Sexual Diversity Committee (GSDC) shall be to identify, support, and celebrate gender and sexually diverse members in their workplaces.

Composition:

The committee shall be composed of up to eight SEIU-West Members in good standing. Preference will be given to those who identify as members of the Gender and Sexually Diverse Community, with up to two members that identify as Allies. Motion to appoint members will be approved by the Executive Board.

The committee will be tabled by two co-chairs that identify as Gender or Sexually Diverse; one of whom does not identify as a man, and one of whom does not identify as a woman.  There will be an elected recording secretary, nominated by the committee members.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

  1. To assist the SEIU-West Executive Board in achieving its targets and priorities
  2. Increasing the visibility of gender and sexually diverse members in the workplace
  3. Creating a visible SEIU-West presence within the gender and sexually diverse community
  4. Educating SEIU-West Members, Staff, and Leadership about gender and sexually diverse issues
  5. Educating the gender and sexually diverse community about labor issues, and supporting workers’ rights within that community
  6. Networking with other labor and community groups to build a strong visible coalition of Gender and Sexually Diverse allies and activists
  7. To work in collaboration with other organizations supporting Gender and Sexually Diverse community members
  8. Organizing against all discrimination, specifically discrimination based on sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or perceived orientation, and or marital status
  9. Promoting gender and sexually diverse active participation and leadership, to work for union democracy and rank and file development.
  10. Lobby government at all levels in order to accomplish our mandate.

Members:

Committee Co-Chairs

Jae Blakley - They/them

 

Recording Secretary

Melanie Sadler - She/her

Members at Large

Penny Anderson - She/her 

Chris Epp - He/him

Carter Shaw 

Top Officer
Barbara Cape She/her – 306.693.7922 ext. 8730 

Staff Representative

Angie Kells She/her – 306.652.1011 ext. 2225

 

Contact this committee

Resources

Gender Transition Guidelines (by Public Service Commission of Saskatchewan)

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Older Adults and Residential Care Environments - Final Report (by Saskatoon Council on Aging and OUT Saskatoon) 

Saskatchewan 2SLGBTQ+ Elders, Seniors, and Older Persons Issues of Concern – Overview Document

Executive Summary: Survey: Still Every Class in Every School (by Egale.ca. Read the full report here.)

Proud, Prepared, and Protected is a suite of online resources (by Canadian Virtual Hospice in collaboration with 40 Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations and more than 100 members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities)

Creating Authentic Spaces: A Gender Identity and Gender Expression Toolkit - Pride At Work Canada (by the 519)

LGBT Rights in Saskatchewan (by Equaldex)

Gender and Sexual Diversity Glossary (by Government of Canada)

A Statistical Portrait of Canada's Diverse LGTQ+ Communities  (by Statistics Canada)

LGBTQ2 Action Plan Survey - Demographic Portrait of the Respondents by Government of Canada)

Be Part of the LGBTQ2 Action Plan (by Government of Canada)

2SLGBTQI+ Federal Action Plan (by Government of Canada)

OUT Saskatoon Q List OUT Saskatoon referral list or places that aims to be inclusive of 2SLGBTQIA+) people

Notable 2SLGBTQ+ Awareness Dates | QueerEvents.ca List of awareness dates with descriptions

Videos

*Trigger warning: Ignorance and fear of the beauty of diversity.  There is nothing wrong with you. There's something wrong in the village. Let's make better villages where everyone can be accepted, loved, and safe. 

Wrabel - The Village

It Gets Better (RCMP BC)

Terminology

Click here for a printable PDF containing 2SLGBTQIA+ Glossary of Terms.

International Lesbian Day

Submitted by Cassitee Creary, SEIU-West Gender & Sexual Diversity Co-Chair (2021-2023)

International Lesbian Day, which is recognized on October 8, is a day for celebration in the lesbian community, but what exactly is International Lesbian Day? International Lesbian Day is a day to recognize and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and unique experiences of lesbian women.

Bisexual Awareness Day

Submitted by: Jae Blakley, SEIU-West Gender & Sexual Diversity Co-Chair

September 23rd is Bisexual Pride Day, and SEIU-West’s Gender & Sexual Diversity Committee is happy to celebrate our bisexual and pansexual members.

Pride 2023!

For years, SEIU-West has marched in pride parades. As a union, we celebrate and fight for equality and diversity. This year, you can join SEIU-West's Gender and Sexual Diversity Committee (GSDC) in the parade!

The committee members would love for you to walk with them in solidarity on:

  • June 10th in Regina. Parade begins at 12:00pm.
  • June 17th in Saskatoon. Parade begins at 1:00pm. We are at 5J.
  • July 8th in Swift Current (Parade begins at 12:00pm, starting in Market Square (corner of Chaplin St E and Central Ave). 

Not sure where to go day of the parade? Tell the marshalls you're with SEIU-West to find out where we are located in the parade line-up.

Prefer to watch us from the sidelines? We welcome that too!

Want more information about upcoming events? 

Watch the Regina, Saskatoon, and Swift Current pride websites for all the activities planned!  

Buy Spark Your Pride tickets here.

Print this poster to hang at your workplace SEIU-West bulletin board!

Did you know, there is a ton of resources on SEIU-West's GSDC webpage? Sharing articles with your circles may be more helpful than you know. 

HAPPY PRIDE!

Take action

Events
Virtual Bulletin Board
Contact