The City of Burnaby is taking steps to become more queer inclusive.
The executive committee of council unanimously approved a motion Wednesday for staff to update the city’s equity policy “to reflect the full, contemporary diversity of Burnaby, including LGBTQIA2S+ community members.”
The motion also directed staff to form a cross-departmental working group, with representation from senior management, “to prioritize and advance LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion in all facets of city spaces, services, materials and programs.”
Mayor Mike Hurley introduced the motion.
“We’ve just been stepping it up as we’ve gone along to ensure that we’re becoming as inclusive as possible, both on the LGBTQ and the aboriginal rights,” Hurley told the NOW. “It’s important to me that we’re as inclusive as possible.”
A number of committee members, including Coun. Pietro Calendino, were unclear about what the letters LGBTQIAS2+ stood for.
“I just need an explanation because this terminology keeps changing,” he said. “IA2S has been added; what do they stand for?”
One staff member said, “I’m OK up to Q.”
“Some days I have to Google it,” Hurley said. “In any case, it’s all part of human rights legislation; it’s really a no-brainer for us.”
LGBTQIA2S+ is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual, two-spirit. The + symbol stands for other ways people self-identify.
No date was specified for the policy update or the formation of the working group.
