Ban on calling out racism, misogyny, homophobia, bigotry and transphobia the wrong approach and harmful to equity deserving groups
Ban on calling out racism, misogyny, homophobia, bigotry and transphobia the wrong approach and harmful to equity deserving groups
WINNIPEG, TREATY 1 –
Manitoba’s largest labour union says a recent decision by the Manitoba Legislative Assembly Speaker banning words that call out harmful behaviour is wrongheaded and harmful.
“The problem with racism isn’t the word ‘racism’,” said Gina McKay, President of CUPE Manitoba. “The problem is racist comments and actions.”
CUPE members were shocked last week when Progressive Conservative MLAs used harmful and racist stereotypes to degrade the Premier’s character. It was CUPE’s expectation that the conduct would be addressed directly for what it is, not the language calling out the conduct.
“When you tell a marginalized group they aren’t allowed to call out racism, that isn’t solving a problem,” said McKay. “It’s silencing those that need to be heard most.”
The banning of the term ‘misogyny’ while the American government platforms on stripping women and gender diverse people of their right to health care, paired with the oppression of women and gender diverse people all over the world is another major issue that will prevent honest debate and discussion about how to support women’s empowerment and equity in Manitoba and across the world.
“We need to call out misogyny when we see it if the goal is to ensure that all Manitobans have equal rights,” said McKay. “We need to be able to talk about what is happening to women and equity groups south of the border with honesty if we want to prevent it from amplifying in the same ways here.”
The terms ‘bigot’, ‘transphobia’ and ‘homophobia’ will be particularly important to debate as we approach municipal and school board elections this fall, with an increasing slate of candidates running on transphobic positions including book bans, GSA limitations and other attacks on trans kids in the classroom.
“CUPE is going to be out there loudly when we see transphobic candidates running for school board. It’s important that people are called out for harmful values and actions when those actions hurt kids,” said McKay. “Like the leader of the opposition when he was the figurehead of the transphobic parental rights movement here in Manitoba. It needs to be named to be stopped.”
CUPE remains committed to calling out racism, transphobia, bigotry, homophobia and misogyny when we see it.
“Our young people look to the legislature to see mentors, and how their leaders talk and respond to issues impacting all Manitobans,” said McKay. “This is a terrible example being set and we hope it is reversed. In the meantime, CUPE will be loud in calling out the PC’s behaviour when it is transphobic, racist, homophobic, misogynist or bigoted, as it has been so often in the past.”
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union representing more than 800,000 members. In Manitoba, CUPE represents approximately 40,000 members working in health care facilities, personal care homes, home care, school divisions, municipal services, social services, disability support services, child care centres, public utilities, libraries, and family emergency services.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Dale Edmunds, CUPE Communications / Media Contact 204-915-7429