bout de papier, Vol. 9, No. 3 (1992) — Summer 1992 // Été 1992, pp. 5–6
The following letter to the SSEA was copied to the Editor:
Dear Ms. McDougall
An anonymous commentary in bout de papier (February 1992) revealed that institutionalized, government sponsored discrimination against gays and lesbians is alive and well at your Department. Furthermore, the discrimination revealed in that article barely scratches the surface of the systemic injustice at External.
There are four areas where gay men and lesbians are discriminated against at EAITC. First, the Department generally assists the spouses of FSOs to get visas and diplomatic status, unless they’re gay. Second, benefits for rotational employees specified in the FSDs, such as travel and family reunion costs and extra allowances, are not available to gay employees with a spouse, as they are for opposite-sex couples. Third, pension and extended medical/dental programs do not recognize same-sex couples for the purpose of benefits. Fourth, a gay FSO may be denied a posting if the Department feels that the anti-gay laws of the foreign country make the posting unsuitable.
Your government has said that it “will take whatever measures are necessary to ensure that sexual orientation is a prohibited ground of discrimination in relation to all areas of federal jurisdiction.” (Towards Equality, 1986). Your government has recognized that sexual orientation is a prohibited ground in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Hansard, March 8, 1990). And yet you have done nothing. As the anonymous contributor to bout de papier said “one can only wonder why, and for how long, management and staff unions will continue to remain silent and to ignore the plight of all employees serving their country abroad while having to share their lives with a ’ghost’.”
I request that you review the policies of your Department and take immediate action within EAITC and with Treasury Board to correct these injustices.
Sincerely yours,
Svend J. Robinson, MP Burnaby-Kingsway In the article entitled “The Ghosts Among Us” in your last issue the anonymous author appears to adopt the prevailing convention of using “gay” as a synonym for “homosexual”. I believe the time has come to protest the hijacking of a good adjective.
My own experiences with homosexuals is not extensive but “gay” is certainly not the adjective I would apply to those I have met. Some have been intelligent, kind, generous and loyal — but that is different. In any case it is ridiculous to use such a specific word as “gay” to describe a large group of people whose temperaments obviously vary greatly from each other. Let us get back to proper English usage.
Harry H. Carter Ottawa
Editor:
Congratulations on your article “The Ghosts Among Us” in Vol. 9, No. 1. The matter of same sex spouses is one that will have to be dealt with soon, if the department hopes to keep up with changes in society. many of the newer members of our department (both straight and gay) it is a non-issue and a situation that should be recognized immediately. It will, however, be a struggle, witness the Anonymous signature on the article and on this letter of support.
Anonymous
Editor:
I am writing to submit two entries, which you will find enclosed, to the bout de papier Photo Contest “The World Through Canadian Eyes.”
I also wanted to say that I think the contest is a wonderful idea, and an excellent way to encourage participation from your rank and file readership. I hope you will also gain more than a few good additions to your photo library….
I note from your masthead that I know and travelled with several members of the editorial board while on training in ’82. Greetings to all. You are doing a marvellous and much appreciated job.
James Schultz Mme le Rédacteur :
Barton, Blouin, Cameron, Fortier, Gauvin, Halstead, Hyndman, Langley, Menzies, McKinney, Nutt, Pearson, Rogers, Small, Warren : cette liste des co-signataires d’un « Mémoire au Comité spécial mixte sur le renouvellement du Canada » reproduit dans vos pages (vol. 9, n° 2) m’est apparu, per se, d’une belle éloquence. En tant que membre de ce Ministère qui a produit, parmi tant d’autres, de tels serviteurs de la politique extérieure canadienne, je me suis réjoui (et, avouons-le, j’ai ressenti un brin de fierté) de leur initiative de produire un tel texte. Je suis sûr que la très vaste majorité de nous qui « vivons » le Canada, et tout le Canada, aux frontières parfois si exaltantes entre, d’une part, sa difficile mais si unique réalité interne et, d’autre part, sa projection et ses apports. au « village » chaque jour plus « global » de la communauté internationale, en partagerons la teneur.
Je vous prie d’agréer, Mme le Rédacteur, l’assurance de mes sentiments les meilleurs.
Jean-Paul Hubert Washington, D.C.
Re: Your editorial “When the Music Stops!” in bout de papier, Vol.
This editorial was one of the most reasoned, sensible, and sensitive articles I have read on the issue of sexual equality in the workplace. Some may object to your term “woman-friendly”, but I would argue that it is an accurate description of what is needed, and indicates the necessity to go beyond statutory requirements to ensure true equality and collegiality in the Department. The re-building of morale in the Department is both a top-down and bottom-up process, and we can all contribute by ensuring that informal discrimination — of any type — is neither condoned by senior management or supported by employees.
Stewart Henderson Policy Planning Staff (CPP)
I am writing a book on women in the Canadian Foreign Service to be published in the fall of 1993.
To make the book as complete and lively as possible, I invite your readers to share with me any reminiscences, anecdotes, adventures and experiences they have had as women officers in External or as colleagues (male or female) of such officers. I would particularly like to hear from men who have worked with female heads of post and from the wives of officers about their relationships with their husbands’ female colleagues.
Since women couldn’t enter External as officers until 1947, and remain today a small minority in the department, I would also welcome expressions of opinion on why the disparity persists. Despite today’s employment and pay equity laws, are women discriminated against in the Foreign Service? Are there examples of sexual harassment?
Letters and documents that shed light on the accomplishments of women officers and their contributions to shaping and carrying out Canadian foreign policy would also be helpful. If you cannot send copies, [’1l return originals. My mailing address is 22 Kingsborough Crescent, Etobicoke, Ontario, M9R 2T9, and my telephone number is (416) 241-7422.
Margaret K. Weiers
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Originally published in / Publié à l’origine dans bout de papier, Vol. 9, No. 3 (1992) — Summer 1992 // Été 1992, pp. 5–6. Read the rest of this issue / Lire le reste de ce numéro →
