Pink Triangle Working Group

CUPE BC’s Pink Triangle Working Group (PTWG) is one of four working groups within the Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD). Its purpose is to promote safe workplaces and to fight homophobia, transphobia and other forms of discrimination against lesbian, gay, transgender, transsexual, questioning and intersex (LGBTTQI) workers, both on the job and in society.

Apart from assisting CUPE in developing awareness-raising courses and materials for activists, the PTWG has also helped organize a province-wide LGBTTQI conference, as well as a provincial human rights conference that had a significant LGBTTQI component. Working group members participate in annual summer pride parades and the International Day Against Homophobia (May 17), as well as special initiatives such as CUPE National’s HIV/AIDS project and the 2011 International Outgames in Vancouver.

The PTWG has lobbied CUPE BC and CUPE National to incorporate a Pride component into CUPE educational programs and has assisted in the production of various educational materials. Beyond the union, it has identified the need to promote the health, welfare and general well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual seniors in our communities as well as promoting gay-straight alliances for youth in schools.

The 2011-2013 Pink Triangle Working Group members are:

Front row: Miriam Pulsifer, Brenda Voelk, Janet Bigelow
Centre row: Crystal Broad, Michael Forrester, Cindy McQueen (chair)
Back row: Kathy McMahon (co-chair), Kevin Robichaud, Conni Kilfoil (staff advisor), Michael Reed
Missing: Matt Quiring, Cheryl Colborne (staff advisor)