|
5.5 Priority Recommendations 1. That the Provincial Government form a province-wide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered (LGBT) Advisory Committee to review, advise and address issues noted in this report, as well as others arising at provincial levels. 2. That the Ministry of the Attorney General fund a province wide Bashline based on policies and procedures developed for the currently existing Bashline in Vancouver. Further, that the Bashline employ widely diverse members of LGBT communities. 3. That the Ministry of the Attorney General provide core funding to support and expand The Centre's 1-800 LGBT run Prideline, including training for employees and volunteers, and resources to keep information current and relevant to each community throughout BC. The Prideline could then serve as a province wide information and support service for the LGBT communities. 4. That the Ministry of the Attorney General fund existing LGBT services and LGBT-positive services as ancillary support services to the Bashline. Further, that the service delivery should be expanded, in conjunction with LGBT input, to develop and provide community support services province wide. 5. That the Ministry for Children and Families provide support and information, including funding, to drop-in centres for LGBT youth in smaller communities. These centres must be developed by local youth, they must provide a safe place for LGBT youth and must be accessible to, and reach out to, LGBT youth living on the streets and in low-income housing. These centres must also be sensitive to issues such as poverty, racism and disability and must recognize the autonomy of youth. 6. That the Ministry of the Attorney General provide funding support to an LGBT organization to conduct education and prevention campaigns with LGBT communities and service providers about hate crimes, bashing and relationship violence and related issues. Further, that the Ministries, including the Ministry of Education, collaborate with LGBT communities to review existing, develop where necessary, and disseminate, information on hate crimes, sexual orientation and gender identity issues, health care issues, discrimination and same-sex relationship violence to LGBT communities and to BC service providers. And further, that this information be disseminated province wide in accessible formats and in appropriate locales. 7. That the Provincial Government require, conduct and support, mandatory diversity/sensitivity training courses on LGBT issues, including health care issues, hate crimes, discrimination and same sex relationship violence, for all levels of government, the criminal justice and health systems, social services, corporations which are government contracted and/or funded, transition house workers, child care workers, youth centres, sexual assault centers, and other emergency services. 8. That the BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) initiate a mandatory and free Professional Development on LGBT/ sexual orientation and gender identity issues and sensitivity training for teachers. Further, that they use skilled and trained mediators and facilitators from within the LGBT communities using a "train the trainers" approach. 9. That the Ministry of Education make the provision of resources and materials mandatory for the Kindergarten to Grade 12 levels to support the Career And Personal Planning (CAPP) curriculum specifically as they pertain to LGBT issues and the reality of LGBTfamilies. 10. That the Ministry of the Attorney General review and amend existing, and develop where necessary, policies and procedures, in appropriate areas, that address hate crimes and same-sex relationship violence ,and in particular, policies that negatively impact on LGBT youth, including the establishment of disciplinary measures for inappropriate and insensitive actions by care providers. 11. That the Ministry of the Attorney General collaborate with LGBT communities to review local policies and procedures of all emergency crisis services to ensure that hate crimes will be dealt with in an appropriate manner. Further, that this include the review of successful violence/hate crimes prevention programs in other locales for effective policies and procedures. 12. That the Ministry of Education and the BCTF develop, promote, and support effective "zero tolerance" policies at all schools in BC to protect students from all forms of harassment, specifically including students' real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity as a protected status. 13. That the Ministry of the Attorney General fund an LGBT organization to create a "Queer Policy Lens." This Lens would be a descriptive analytical tool for policy makers and service providers to use when creating policies or programs to determine if LGBT issues have been fully addressed and could build on tools already created by the BC Ministry of Women's Equality and the Office for Disability Issues. 14. That the Provincial Government recognize that human rights abuses, including hate crimes, can be ameliorated by using proactive language. Further, that the use of proactive non-discriminatory language be required in all legislation, policies, documents and statements. And further, that existing legislation and policies be reviewed and amended to remedy discriminatory language and practices. |