The Trafficking and Exploitation Services System (TESS) and Girls Against Trafficking and Exploitation (GATE), are joined in advocacy to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. In recent months, across Canada, we have seen a concerning rise in anti-trans sentiment. A common theme that has risen from this dialog is the belief that members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and their allies are grooming children through our school curriculums and in other public settings.

The term “grooming” refers to a process of trust building, manipulation, and coercion with an underlying intention to sexually exploit or abuse another person. The weaponization of such weighted language against the entirety of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is increasing their risk of experiencing discrimination and violence. Not only is the misuse of this language extremely harmful and egregious, but also poses a threat to our collective understanding of what grooming is, its existing pervasiveness Canada wide, and our efforts to prevent it. TESS and GATE are joined in concern for the impact this misuse of language is having on the safety of children and vulnerable populations in Nova Scotia, and across Canada.

TESS and GATE, through their research, experience, and front-line work with survivors, know that grooming is a core component of the tactics used to sexually exploit and traffic people. Grooming and luring techniques are used to successfully gain control over a vulnerable targets life prior to recruiting them into the sex trade or into a sexually exploitative dynamic. It is also common to see grooming employed within violent intimate relationships as an element of power and control seeking behavior. For survivors and experts on the matter, grooming manifests as an easily identifiable pattern; grooming involves meeting a vulnerable person needs through attentiveness, promise making, and love bombing to create dependency and closeness with a clear and demonstrated intent to assert control. Grooming is associated with a broader issue of gender based and patriarchal violence, and thus, the misuse of the word “grooming”, and its weaponization against the trans community, poses a direct discreditation to the work of agencies and individuals that are diligently battling systemic oppression and advocating for survivors, many of which are members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community themselves.

Although anyone can either perpetrate or be victimized by trafficking, sexual exploitation, or intimate partner violence, we know through research conducted by TESS in Nova Scotia that over 98% of victims of commercial sexual exploitation are women, girls, or gender diverse, and that 30% of victims are members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. When TESS studied the risk factors for trafficking, it was identified that both gender inequity and experiencing discrimination created vulnerability and increased risk. This is to say that the discrimination experienced by 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals increased their risk of experiencing grooming within their lifetime. IPV survivors are also predominantly women, with 2SLGBTQIA+ women being twice as likely to experience this form of violence. Safe, inclusive spaces, and education delivered through a gender inclusive lens, create protective factors against grooming and exploitation.

2SLGBTQIA+ youth, and all youth, deserve to go to school and engage in community spaces that are equitable, inclusive, and free of discrimination. All youth benefit from early education on healthy relationships, consent, bodily autonomy, and age-appropriate sexual health. It is not considered grooming to provide youth with education on these topics, and because these topics are deeply connected to the systemic oppression of women, girls, and gender diverse people, it is essential that this education is delivered through an inclusive lens that considers how gender may impact a child’s experience. Many components of the Nova Scotia Health Education curriculum, for example, were designed to provide foundational knowledge to children which might keep them safe from exploitation or violence. TESS and GATE would advocate that anti-exploitation material should be taught at even younger ages and in greater depth than is currently written into curriculum.

It is the stance of TESS and GATE that the misuse of the term “grooming” toward trans people is unmistakably transphobic. It is founded in harmful stereotypes and its misuse contributes to the unsafety of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Confusion around the meaning of this word will undoubtedly decrease our capacity to identify and prevent actual instances of grooming. In December of 2023, the Ontario Supreme Court of Justice ruled that “perpetuating such stereotypes and myths about members of the 2SLGBTQI community is not public interest speech.” This ruling demonstrates an important reminder; while we each have freedom of expression, not everything freely spoken is free of consequence and impact. Language matters, TESS and GATE encourage the public, businesses, non-profits, and government agencies to stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It is important that we stand together in upholding the human rights of one another, as well as to protect access to essential education on gender, sexual health, and healthy relationships for youth.

In solidarity, we stand invested in the safe and bright futures of all youth.
Stephanie Atwood, GATE
Kylee Nunn, TESS

Signatures of Solidarity

1. YWCA Halifax, Nova Scotia
2. Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia
3. The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic, Nova Scotia
4. Our House Youth Wellness Centre, Nova Scotia
5. Be The Peace Institute, Nova Scotia
6. Pictou County Women’s Resource and Sexual Assault Centre, Nova Scotia
7. Adsum For Women and Children, Nova Scotia
8. The Youth Project, Nova Scotia
9. Cape Breton Transgender Network, Nova Scotia
10. Nova Scotia Intersex Support Network, Nova Scotia
11. SEXEDUCATE Collective, Nova Scotia
12. Chroma: Pride, Inclusion, Equality, Inc., Nova Scotia
13. Halifax Sexual Health Centre, Nova Scotia
14. Sexual Health Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia
15. Cape Breton Youth Project, Nova Scotia
16. Society of Queer Momentum, Canada
17. Wisdom2Action, Canada
18. Affirming Connections, Alberta
19. Rabbi Dr. Nachshon Siritsky, Spiritual Leader
20. Diverse Roots Therapy, Nova Scotia
21. Healthy Minds Cooperative, Nova Scotia
22. Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association, Nova Scotia
23. Women Centres Connect- Provincial Association of Women’s Centres, Nova Scotia
24. South Shore Sexual Health, Nova Scotia
25. Tr-County Women’s Centre, Nova Scotia
26. Southwest Nova Pride Association, Nova Scotia
27. Every Woman’s Centre, Sydney, Nova Scotia
28. Shea O’Bertos Registered Psychologist, Nova Scotia
29. UndercurrentYC, Nova Scoita
30. Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists, Nova Scotia
31. Pride Cape Breton Society, Nova Scotia
32. Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Nova Scotia
33. Naomi Society, Nova Scotia
34. Dr. Lisa Lachance, MLA, Halifax Citadel-Sable Island
35. Gary Burrill, MLA, Halifax Chebucto
36. Second Story Women’s Centre, Nova Scotia
37. Welcome Housing and Support Services, Nova Scotia
38. Suzy Hansen, MLA, Halifax Needham
39. The Floatation Centre, Halifax
40. Peer Outreach Support Services & Education (POSSE), Nova Scotia
41. Nova Scotia College of Social Workers, Nova Scotia

FIND ORIGINAL LETTER ON ACTION CANADA

November 17, 2023

Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Subject: Feminist Organizations Joint Appeal for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

We, the undersigned, a coalition of feminist, gender justice, and human rights organizations, come together to add our collective voice, echoing the concerns of Canadians and advocates worldwide. The escalating death toll in the Palestine and Israel region demands immediate attention and action. We implore the Canadian Government to wield its influence forcefully, demanding an immediate ceasefire in the occupied Gaza Strip and Israel. We call on our government to join the international effort to monitor the ceasefire. The time for decisive action is now. Peace, human rights, and gender equality are imperatives that must inform the Canadian response to these current events, consistent with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy. The path of militarization leads to heightened violence, especially gender-based violence, and obstructs access to critical resources, including healthcare. Women, children, and LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately vulnerable in times of conflict. As unwavering advocates for human rights and gender equality across diverse communities, we call on Canada to prioritize the well-being of affected communities. It’s time to champion peace, equality, and the safeguarding of human rights.

The call for “pauses” does not adequately address the urgent need to save lives and alleviate the immediate and critical humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.

Reports of civilian casualties, widespread trauma and injuries, individuals left without adequate medical care, and the dire conditions faced by vulnerable populations, including infants in incubators, children, pregnant women, those about to give birth or immediately post-partum, LGBTQ+ people and disabled people, compel us to appeal for immediate and decisive action to bring about a ceasefire. As the world witnesses the widespread suffering, injuries, and loss of lives among civilians, including thousands of children, it is our responsibility as feminist, gender justice, and human rights organizations to call on you to take a clear and decisive stance.

Furthermore, we request that Canada actively makes every possible effort to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected areas in Gaza and support the safe return of hostages to their families. The urgency of the situation demands swift and decisive action to ensure that medical facilities receive the necessary support to treat the injured and that essential supplies such as food, water, fuel, medical supplies, reach those in need.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. As advocates committed to the principles of gender equality and to the protection of human rights, we earnestly implore our government, which proudly identifies itself as feminist, to align its actions with these professed values. We trust that you will consider this joint appeal with the gravity it deserves.

Sincerely,

• Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
• AGIR Outaouais
• AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia
• Amnesty International Canada English Speaking Section
• Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
• Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic
• Birth Mark
• Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity
• Canadian Council of Muslim Women
• Canadian Women’s Foundation
• Cape Breton Centre for Sexual Health
• Child Care Now (Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada)
• Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice
• DisAbled Women’s Network of Canada||Réseau d’action des femmes handicapées du Canada
• Ending Violence Association of Canada
• Fédération du Québec pour le planning des naissances
• FemDev Consulting
• Grounded Doula Services
• Halifax Sexual Health Centre
• Klinic Community Health
• Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak
• National Right to Housing Network
• New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity
• Niagara Reproductive Justice
• Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
• Oxfam Canada
• Planned Parenthood NL Sexual Health Centre
• Planned Parenthood Regina
• Planned Parenthood Toronto
• Sexual Assault Services of Saskatchewan
• Sexual Health Nova Scotia
• South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario
• The Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS)
• The Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women/ L’Institut canadien de recherches sur les femmes (CRIAW-ICREF)
• The Obstetric Justice Project
• Women’s Centre for Social Justice (WomenatthecentrE)
• Women’s Shelters Canada
• YWCA Halifax

CC: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly

Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Marci Ien

August 18, 2021

YWCA Halifax staff and participants are still reeling from yesterday’s events.  Our team has been supporting people in the encampments.  Our team joined with loved ones outside of the police station to help try to coordinate access to legal counsel for those detained during the confrontations with police.  Our team worked with the many other non-profits in our city to come together and coordinate a plan of response.  Like many of you, we were caught off guard by the lack of coordination with community agencies and the inability to pursue a peaceful path.

What needs to happen now:

• All summary offence tickets should be erased.  Fining people with no resources is outrageous.
• All charges against those who were arrested and held in police custody should be dropped.  
• A review of actions of police, particularly the indiscriminate use of pepper spray, must be conducted.
• A review of the unconstitutional refusal by police to allow those detained to have access to legal counsel must be conducted.  
• Resources must be leveraged to allow for a full enumeration of all those who have been scattered, assessing their current housing and needs.
• Resources must be leveraged to support all those in need of housing to access safe, self-determined shelter.
• A lived experience advisory committee resourced and convened by city council to inform council and administration.
• A full and public accounting of the decision-making process that lead to yesterday’s events.

If you are in need of legal or housing support as a result as a result of yesterday’s events, please reach out to us. We are working with our partners and are here for you.