October is Women’s History Month in Canada, a time to celebrate the advancements in the rights and liberties of women, girls, and gender-diverse people, celebrate their achievements, and recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight for equity, equality and human rights.
Canada has a long history of feminist organizing and we are indebted to the work of those who came before us. From those who fought for women’s legal right to personhood and the right to vote, to those carrying on the fight for reproductive rights, equal pay, childcare, and gender and sexuality equality, I extend my sincere thanks and admiration.
We take up the mantel of those who fought before us as we tackle the challenges of today.
We stand together against the swell of hatred targeting transgender women. Trans women are women. The transmisogyny that they face is intrinsically connected to all other forms of misogyny, including the growing attacks on reproductive freedoms that threaten to restrict the bodily autonomy of those who can become pregnant.
We stand together against the high rates of gender-based violence, with disproportionate violence targeting Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people, 2SLGBTQ+ people, Black and racialized people, and people with disabilities.
We stand together against attacks on gender and sexuality education in schools, which threatens to rob girls and gender-diverse children of knowledge that helps them to be safe, understood, and liberated.
And we stand together for the full economic empowerment of all women and gender-diverse people, including for equal pay and workplace equity measures, affordable and accessible childcare, free and accessible contraception and reproductive healthcare, and education and career advancement opportunities.
It is often trans feminists, Black feminists, Indigenous feminists, and feminists of colour who pave the way for liberation for all. I thank you and I stand beside you in the fight for a more just world.