LGBTQ+

Diversity creates vibrancy 

A socially and economically vibrant community improves the quality of life for all residents. It provides a sense of belonging for residents and visitors, attracting population growth and economic investment. Local governments play a critical role in creating a welcoming and inclusive community. 

Have you considered the needs of your local LGBTQ community?

The acronym LGBTQ+ refers to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and the plus (+) sign represents the many diverse sexual orientations and gender identities that are part of the community. LGBTQ+ people often feel excluded from their communities due to overt (homophobic) and systemic (heterosexist) experiences of discrimination. In 1996, the Canadian Human Rights Act was amended to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In 2009, Alberta included sexual orientation in the Alberta Human Rights Act. In 2015, Alberta added gender identity and gender expression to the Alberta Human Rights Act. 

Check out the resources section at the bottom of the page for a collection of toolkits, guides, supports, municipal examples, and reports to help your community take action. 

List of municipalities that publicly support LGBTQ+

As of June 2024, ABmunis is aware that the following municipalities publicly celebrate the diversity of their LGBTQ+ community by proclaiming a Pride Day, raising a Pride flag, or supporting Pride parades and festivals. 

  • City of Brooks 
  • City of Calgary 
  • City of Edmonton 
  • City of Leduc 
  • City of Lethbridge 
  • City of Red Deer 
  • Town of Canmore
  • Town of Okotoks
  • Municipality of Jasper 
  • Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo 
  • Strathcona County 

To add your municipality to the list, wic [at] abmunis.ca (please e-mail us). 

 

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions: Rainbow Crosswalks, Pride Flags, and “Neutrality” Bylaws
Since 2006, the goal of ABmunis Welcoming and Inclusive Communities (WIC) initiative has been to support communities where all residents and visitors enjoy a sense of belonging and where diversity adds to the social and economic vibrancy of the community, improving the quality of life for all residents. Rainbow crosswalks and pride flags can be an important part of demonstrating a community’s willingness to embrace all residents. The FAQ document is intended to provide information to support local decisions, it should not however be construed as representing legal advice.

Aging with Pride: A Guide to Creating Inclusive Services for LGBTQ2S+ Older Adults 
Released in 2020, this Government of Alberta resource suggests that anywhere from 16,000 to 81,000 older adults in Alberta identify as LGBTQ2S+. This guide is designed to support any organization that works with older adults as volunteers, staff, clients, residents, or participants such as seniors’ centres and associations, frontline service providers, housing providers, and others.   

Conversion Therapy in Canada: The Roles and Responsibilities of Municipalities
This guide was developed by leading experts, academics, persons with lived experience, and faith and community leaders to assist municipalities in better understanding their roles and responsibilities in taking action to protect LGBTQ2 people from conversion therapy within their local communities.

Gender-inclusive correspondence
The Government of Canada’s Translation Bureau offers simple techniques to write letters and emails that are inclusive of all gender identities.

LGBTQ2+ Inclusiveness: A Toolkit for Inclusive Municipalities in Canada and Beyond
Developed by the Canadian Commission for the United Nations, Educational and Scientific Organization, this toolkit includes an overview of the issues impacting the LGBTQ2+ community and outlines courses of action and examples of good practices from Canadian municipalities that are members of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities. 

How to Support Transgender Employees

An Alberta Municipalities webinar (2017) that featured presentations from the Alberta Human Rights Commission on the legal aspects of accommodation of gender identity and gender expression and the City of Red Deer spoke about its approach to support an employee during their process of transitioning. Available in video or PowerPoint. 

Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre
Provides links to resources compiled by the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre, including a video documentary of youth talking about their experiences of being LGBTQ in Alberta.

Alberta Health Services – LGBTQ+/Sexual and Gender Diversity
Alberta Health Services offers a variety of information to support the LGBTQ+ community as it relates to receiving healthcare. portal of information specific to the LGBTQ+ community such as content on terminology, how to be an ally, how to create safe spaces, and tips for inclusive service delivery within the healthcare system. 

Calgary Outlink: Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity
Calgary Outlink provides a safe community space equipped with support services, education opportunities, a crisis line and access to resources.

Pride Centre of Edmonton
Provides resources, support, and programming for the LGBTQ community, and houses an extensive online resources list.

The 519
The 519 is a Toronto-based agency that offers numerous online materials on how to create LGBTQ inclusive environments in workplaces, sports, housing, as well as information specific to newcomers and older LGBTQ persons. 

University of Alberta’s Institute for Sexual Minority Studies & Services
Leads research and offers programs that change attitudes toward sexual and gender minorities. 

YouthSafe
is a project of the Alberta Civil Liberties Resource Centre that aims to address the gaps in violence prevention services for LGBTQ youth.

City of Lethbridge
In 2017, the City of Lethbridge became the second city in the world to paint a Transgender flag on a city crosswalk. The City also has multiple rainbow-painted crosswalks and supports the community’s multi-day Pride Fest.

Municipality of Jasper
The Municipality of Jasper led a photo project to capture portraits of residents holding a sign that states how they are diverse. Some of the images portray residents who proclaim they are proud to be gay and are used by the municipality in street banners and materials to promote the diversity of the community.

Town of Cochrane
The Town assisted a group of residents through the process of forming a society and implementing governance structures so that a community-driven support system was available to LGBTQ+ youth and education for parents.