Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 5 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
QS2.1received
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Chair, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee, will update the Committee on recent events and initiatives.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee received the item for information.
QS2.2adopted
Proposed Name Change for the Advisory Committee
On March 26, 2021 at the first meeting of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) Council Advisory Committee, a member (leZlie lee kam) suggested a review of the Committee's name to reflect the unique position of Indigenous communities in Toronto. As Chair, I undertook to work with staff to find out how the City's initiatives on the matter aligned with the conversation at the Committee. Staff in the People and Equity Division conducted a jurisdictional scan and consulted with partners on the question of the name. Recognizing the importance of rhetoric, narrative and language in driving culture, the City must strive to continuously learn and evolve to mitigate unintended negative connotations with the use of empowering and inclusive language. As such, it is recommended that we advance the amended use of the acronym to lead with the recognition of Two-Spirit (2S) peoples to honour Indigenous communities who came before all others and to align with what Indigenous partners are asking of us. Use of the acronym 2SLGBTQ+ also aligns with best practice in the evolving field of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and reflects the advice of the City of Toronto's Indigenous Affairs Office. Changing the committee's name not only ensures consistency with the City's revised terminology but also with the City's Community of Inclusion (the Pride Network), which has already adopted this new acronym. Based on the City's commitment to driving equity and meeting its commitments to reconciliation, it is our responsibility to reflect on our role in confronting injustice and dismantling systems of oppression. Evaluating the language we engage with is an important step in this assessment.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee recommends to the Executive Committee that: 1. City Council change the name of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee to the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee. 2. City Council amend the Terms of Reference of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee to reflect the name change and to make editorial revisions, as set out in Attachment 1 to the letter (May 20, 2021) from Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Chair, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee.
Staff recommendation as filed
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam recommends that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee recommend to the Executive Committee that: 1. City Council change the name of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee to the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee. 2. City Council amend the Terms of Reference of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee to reflect the name change and to make editorial revisions, as set out in Attachment 1 to this letter.
QS2.3received
Cheryl Blackman, Interim General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, will present an update on preliminary work and next steps regarding the protection of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit businesses and cultural spaces in the Church and Wellesley Village. This presentation is a first step in response to Council's Request in Item MM14.8 - Protecting LGBTQ2S+ Small Businesses and Cultural Space - to conduct a review of existing City of Toronto programs and include recommendations that can further enhance optimal conditions for LGBTQ2S+ small businesses and cultural spaces to succeed and thrive.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee received the item for information.
QS2.4amended
City Council, on March 10, 2021, referred Item CC30.2 to the June 22, 2021 meeting of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee for consideration.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee recommends to the Executive Committee that City Council adopt the recommendations in the report (March 3, 2021) from the City Manager and the Chief People Officer, amended to read as follows: 1. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the General Manager, Transportation Services and other impacted divisions, to review facility booking policies, procedures, guidelines, terms/conditions and complaints processes to ensure compliance with the City's standardized approach set out below in the Section of this report titled "Supporting Policy, Application and Process Alignment across Divisions" that is aligned with the City of Toronto's Vision Statement on Access, Equity, and Inclusion, the Corporate Facilities Display and Fundraising Policy, as well as Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Discrimination and Hate Activity Policies ("Human Rights Policies") and other relevant corporate policies. 2. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the General Manager, Transportation Services and other impacted divisions, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to track and monitor divisional complaints and resulting enforcement actions as well as instances of alleged hate activity or discrimination that result in permits being denied or revoked. 3. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the General Manager, Transportation Services and other impacted divisions to develop processes to strengthen the administration and application of room/facilities booking policies and procedures to ensure adherences to City of Toronto Human Rights Policies and Procedures; such procedures should include staff training and increased communications and awareness, to the public, of existing policies. 4. City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to work with respective City divisions to review City-owned properties with an equity lens with the aim of promoting LGBTQ2S+ inclusion. 5. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the General Manager, Transportation Services and other impacted divisions , to consult with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) Advisory Committee as necessary, through the implementation process and to report their progress on implementing Recommendations 1 to 4 above to the Advisory Committee by the second quarter of 2022. 6. City Council request all City Agencies and Corporations that oversee the use of spaces or facilities that are made available to the public to align their facility booking policies, procedures, guidelines, terms/conditions and complaints processes with the City's Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Discrimination and Hate Activity Policies ("Human Rights Policies") and other relevant corporate policies of the City and of their Board, as appropriate. 7. City Council request the Toronto Public Library Board to request the City Librarian, Toronto Public Library to consult with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) Advisory Committee as necessary, through the implementation process and to report their progress on implementing Recommendation 6 above to the Advisory Committee by the second quarter of 2022.
QS2.5amended
The Equity and Diversity Team will lead the Advisory Committee in the development of a work plan.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee: 1. Requested the Director, Equity and Human Rights, People and Equity to develop a list of priority issues of interest, based on the Committee's discussion, to be shared back with the Committee to inform its development of a strategic work plan. 2. Included a review of the Committee name and acronym in the Committee's work plan, to ensure the City is relevant to today's society and needs.