Item - 2021.QS2.2

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee recommends to the Executive Committee that:

1.  City Council change the name of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee to the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee.

2.  City Council amend the Terms of Reference of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee to reflect the name change and to make editorial revisions, as set out in Attachment 1 to the letter (May 20, 2021) from Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Chair, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit Advisory Committee.

On March 26, 2021 at the first meeting of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) Council Advisory Committee, a member (leZlie lee kam) suggested a review of the Committee's name to reflect the unique position of Indigenous communities in Toronto.

As Chair, I undertook to work with staff to find out how the City's initiatives on the matter aligned with the conversation at the Committee. Staff in the People and Equity Division conducted a jurisdictional scan and consulted with partners on the question of the name.

Recognizing the importance of rhetoric, narrative and language in driving culture, the City must strive to continuously learn and evolve to mitigate unintended negative connotations with the use of empowering and inclusive language. As such, it is recommended that we advance the amended use of the acronym to lead with the recognition of Two-Spirit (2S) peoples to honour Indigenous communities who came before all others and to align with what Indigenous partners are asking of us.

Use of the acronym 2SLGBTQ+ also aligns with best practice in the evolving field of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and reflects the advice of the City of Toronto's Indigenous Affairs Office. Changing the committee's name not only ensures consistency with the City's revised terminology but also with the City's Community of Inclusion (the Pride Network), which has already adopted this new acronym.

Based on the City's commitment to driving equity and meeting its commitments to reconciliation, it is our responsibility to reflect on our role in confronting injustice and dismantling systems of oppression. Evaluating the language we engage with is an important step in this assessment.