Queerphobia is defined as hatred towards members of the An acronym that stands for Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*, Queer (or Questioning), Intersex, Asexual. The placement of Two Spirit (2S) first is to recognize that Indigenous people are the first peoples of this land, and their understanding of gender and sexuality precedes colonization. The ‘+’ is for all the new and growing ways we become aware of sexual orientations and gender diversity.2SLGBTQIA+
There is a significant underrepresentation of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in the skilled trades. A study released by the SRDC identifies that 0.5% of tradespeople identify as gay, 0.6% as lesbian, and 0.2% as bisexual (Appiah et al., 2023)°. 2SLGBTQIA+ tradespeople often face elevated levels of stress because of harassment and microaggressions, and they feel unsafe revealing their true selves, resulting in poor mental and physical health outcomes and statistically significant lower life satisfaction (Appiah et al., 2023). Many 2SLGBTQIA+ apprentices cite a lack of supportive networks to lean on and uncertainty in finding a safe apprenticeship, posing a significant barrier to those who want to pursue a career in the trades (Appiah et al., 2023).
°It should be noted that this may be an underrepresentation as some people may not have felt safe or comfortable disclosing this information.
“ I stayed closeted as an apprentice because I wanted to make sure that I solidified my role within the company…I think that some…stay closeted their entire experience, whether they’re a journeyperson or not. They don’t feel comfortable being out at work because there are incidents that occur where they’re being harassed to the point of being forced to leave the trade permanently. ”
– 2SLGBTQIA+ tradesperson
Once securing apprenticeships, 2SLGBTQIA+ apprentices are at risk of experiencing (Appiah et al., 2023; Howe et al., 2023):
- Homo-, bi-, and/or trans-phobic language
- A lack of access to personal protective equipment (PPE) for different genders and body types
- Microaggressions and harassment
- A lack of gender-neutral washrooms
- Sexualization
- A lack of support
- Inadequate 2SLGBTQIA+ competency and safety among instructors and administrators
While it is acknowledged that there are many programs dedicated to addressing barriers equity- deserving apprentices face, some can unintentionally exclude 2SLGBTQIA+ apprentices through the language used, eligibility rules, and/or disclosure requirements (Appiah et al., 2023). This unintentional exclusion could push 2SLGBTQIA+ apprentices to either prematurely leave the trades or conceal their 2SLGBTQIA+ identity to protect their wellbeing and safety (Appiah et al., 2023).
Spotlight
The Women Transitioning to Trades and Employment program at George Brown College is a free pre-apprenticeship program specifically offered to women, gender-nonbinary, transgender, and 2-spirit peoples who are interested in pursuing a career in the trades with the goal of increasing the number of people from under-represented groups to enter and be successful in the trades.
At Mohawk College, Women in Technology and Trades (WiTT) is a group that increases opportunities and supports for women and gender-diverse people in technology and trades in all fields, through a rich networking and support community.
