LGBT immigrants and refugees are a group that we often don’t think about. I honestly hadn’t even thought about this particular type of situation until I had to sit down and write about it and honestly, I am shocked. In the example I will give, it is true what Mullaly(2007) said, “the view the oppressors hold of the oppressed is that they constitute a dangerous class that must be controlled for the good of the whole society.” Immigration minister Jason Kenney, in the past year or so, decided to take out the “gay rights” from the citizenship guide. (theglobeandmail,2011) It caused a major uproar within the LGBT community, as they felt they were no longer important enough to be spoken about to prospective Canadian citizens who could be identifying as LGBT as well. I find that to be incredibly offensive, yet he made excuses saying there wasn’t enough room in the guide for EVERY right and policy. (theglobeandmail,2011) You have got to be kidding me.
Afterwards, Minister Kenny appeared to find his common sense and proceeded to make a promise to the LGBT immigrants and refugees. It is a pilot project that will give $100,000 in assistance for the first three months to every immigrant or refugee identifying as part of the LGBT group. (thestar, 2011) As well as the Rainbow committee will be in charge of orientation service, food, accommodation and other basic needs. (thestar,2011)After this big announcement of the huge amazing pilot project for the LGBT immigration and refugees, Minister Kenny added the gay rights back into the citizenship guide due to huge controversy. (thestar,2011) I cannot say that this project is a bad idea, in fact I think it’s a great idea and it should’ve been thought of before but the basis on which the project was built, is guilt and I don’t think it should have gotten to that point. I believe that minister Kenny should apologize for what he had done, it was an utter disgrace and I found it revolting how someone could make excuses for their almost homophobic actions.
As I kept searching for more information on this situation, I found a site on which they wrote an article about it but from a transgendered perspective. In fact, Minister Kenny never directly includes the transgendered into this project, only states LGBT, sexual minorities (which the article stated was the incorrect term) and at one point states sexual orientation but not gender identity. (transpedianews, 2011) I wonder if Minister Kenny will fight for all of LGBT, or simply those who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual. These immigrants and refugees deserve the best and that’s what we as a nation should give them. It is unfortunate that the gay rights were taken out of the citizenship guide at all, the project is a good start and we should keep going. Everyone deserves a chance at a safe life, no matter sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity or culture.
Belinda
References
Beeby, Dean. (march 14, 2011). Immigration Minister pulled gay rights from citizenship guide, documents show. Retrieved from: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/immigration-minister-pulled-gay-rights-from-citizenship-guide-documents-show/article1486935/page2/
Heather. (March 28th, 2011). Citizenship and Immigration Canada to help Trans Refugees. Retrieved from: http://transpedianews.com/?p=212
Keung, Nicholas. (march 24th, 2011). Canada to assist persecuted gay refugees. Retrieved from: http://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/immigration/article/959975--canada-to-assist-persecuted-gay-refugees
Mullaly, R. (2007). The new structural social work (3rd Ed.) Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press
I also posted a blog on this topic because I find it so frustrating that under a Conservative goverment, people in power are aloud to do such innapropriate and mean things to the LGBTTQ* community, things need to change!
ReplyDelete-Brigitte
I found this so interesting, I too have never even thought of this group of people. It is great to see that they are being helped but I would have never even known this was an issue. It just goes to show that there are so many people who are invisible and that there is so much more in the world to look for and to help.
ReplyDeleteIt just broadens my mind into so many differnt areas to help people.
Brittany
I too find that "gay rights" being unincluded from the citizenship guide is just plain rude and offensive. And then to make up silly excuses like "there wasn't enough room" is just stupid and immature. It is great that Minister Kenny than changed his plan, but it shouldn't have been a problem or taken out of the citizenship guide in the first place. Great blog entry!
ReplyDelete- Michal B.