Jessica Stern, then-head of Outright International, speaks during the OutSummit in New York in a Dec. 7, 2019, handout photo. The Liberals are facing mounting calls to appoint a senior diplomat to advocate for LGBTQ people abroad, including within their caucus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, OutRight Action International, Brad Hamilton, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
OTTAWA – The Liberals are facing mounting calls to appoint a senior diplomat to advocate for LGBTQ people abroad, including within their caucus.
The Dignity Network, a coalition of Canadian groups that advocate for gender and sexual minorities abroad, says Ottawa should follow the Biden administration in creating a special envoy who can push for gender and sexual minorities abroad.
The woman who holds that role, Jessica Stern, says that if Canada follows suit, the envoy should focus on amplifying the work of grassroots groups here and abroad, while speaking with clout from the country’s highest political office.
Stern says she can’t weigh in on domestic Canadian affairs, but says there is a co-ordinated, transnational movement to erode LGBTQ rights everywhere and countries should work together to protect people.
Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault, a former LGBTQ adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for domestic issues, says he supports having an official to co-ordinate Canada’s advocacy abroad.
Sherwin Modeste, the head of Pride Toronto, grew up in the Caribbean country of Grenada and says he supports Ottawa creating this role, as long as it focuses on the demands of local communities instead of directing them.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2023.
