PSPN E-Newsletter

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History

History of GLBT Organization in the Federal Government

  • 1950s and early 1960s: The lives of many Canadian civil servants and military members were destroyed after an RCMP campaign against homosexuals and subversives. Even now, many victims are reluctant to talk about it. Security officials compiled the names of 9,000 "confirmed and suspected homosexuals" in the Ottawa area.
  • 1969: Homosexuality is decriminalized in Canada.
  • 1996: The Supreme Court decides that the Canadian Human Rights Act should be expanded to include sexual orientation as a ground for discrimination. This means that federal departments and institutions are forbidden from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation.
  • 1997: GLBT employees begin organizing a network at the Department of Canadian Heritage, one of the first federal departments to recognize the unique needs and contributions of GLBT employees.
  • 2001: Employees from Public Works and Government Services Canada, Natural Resources, Health Canada, Canada Revenue Agency and Statistics Canada begin meeting to develop an Interdepartmental Network.
  • 2002-03: Social events generate further interest, and in 2004 GLBT employees in several federal departments decide to develop a broader network.
  • 2004: The PSP Network begins meeting regularly at monthly social events drawing 100s of members. Our email distribution list reaches an even broader number, facilitating more networking connections.
  • 2007-08: Jonathan Allen assumes role as PSP Coordinator. PSP establishes a network of Departmental Contacts who act as liaisons for members looking to meet colleagues in their department/agency and to make connections to department-specific GLBT groups. In 2007, PSP startes holding events for PSP Women through the work of a PSP Women's Coordinator. In 2008, a PSP Sports Officer is appointed to organize and promote PSP Sports events and participation.
  • 2008-09: PSP participates in new and important initiatives, including: 1. Discussion meeting with the Diversity Branch, Workplace Workforce Renewal Sector, Canada Public Service Agency (Treasury Board Secretariat) on the meaning of diversity and perceived diversity needs (June 2008); 2. Panel member for an official Aboriginal Awareness Week event discussion highlighting social issues faced by Two-Spirited people while transitioning to, or living in an urban centre. "Two-Spirited" added to mandate and identity of PSP to reflect the diversity of our membership. (May 2009); 3. Participation as a Public Service Network/Community in roundtable discussions on values and ethics in the culture of the Public Service, chaired by Deputy Minister members of the Deputy Minister Committee on Public Service Renewal (July 2009).
  • 2010: Continued participation in discussion forums organized by the Privy Council Office on Public Service Renewal (June 2010). PSP hosts yoga and ballroom dance events at Capital Pride Health and Fitness Day. PSP is awarded the first ever Capital Pride Partnership Award for Outstanding Community Organization. PSP is featured in an interview on CBC Radio One Ottawa Morning (August 2010).
  • 2011: PSP holds its first ever regional event in Vancouver, British Columbia (July 2011). PSP organizes and runs Capital Pride Health and Fitness Day (August 2011). Healthly living and fitness activities contribute to individual well-being and achieving work-life balance, which is an important consideration for public servants. PSP's participation through Capital Pride and the healthy living and fitness communities also offer ways for our members to improve and challenge themselves, meet new people with common interests, strengthen our community and to network. PSP Coordinator appeared as a panel member at a Citizenship and Immigration Canada Diversity Week event to discuss experiences of GLBTT public servants (December 2011).
  • The Future: Additional regional outreach, events in others cities, and a focus on new and young public servants remain priorities and planning work is currently underway.

 

 

For further information:

  • Gary Kinsman (1996) The Regulation of Desire: Homo and Hetero Sexualities, 2nd ed. Montreal: Black Rose Books.
  • Gary Kinsman (2000) "Constructing Gay Men and Lesbians as National Security Risks, 1950-70." In Gary Kinsman, Dieter K. Buse and Mercedes Steedman, eds. Whose National Security? Canadian State Surveillance and the Creation of Enemies. Toronto: Between the Lines Press.
  • Gary Kinsman and Patrizia Gentile (1998) In the Interests of the State: The anti-gay, anti-lesbian national security campaign in Ottawa. A Preliminary Report. Published by Laurentian University.