'Heated Rivalry' stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. Courtesy of Crave Canada’s media industry has launched a new push for inclusive and creative workplaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals across the country’s film, television, streaming and video game sectors.
The Pride in Production initiative from Pink Triangle Press has key industry backing and aims to drive more acceptance for Two spirit, trans, non-binary and gender non conforming people working in Canada’s screen sectors. The initiative follows a June 2024 report and polling by Pink Triangle Press that found 93 percent of industry professionals surveyed valued queer and trans screen representation, but only 41 percent believed workplaces across the Canadian film, TV, streaming and gaming industries were inclusive.
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Trans people working in the Canadian industry reported feeling the least safe. “Working with industry partners, with their strong commitment, and with the support of the Canada Media Fund, we are pleased to share new tools to support closing the gap and ensuring that 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals feel supported, respected and safe in their day-to-day work,” David Walberg, CEO of Pink Triangle Press, based in Toronto, said in a statement.
The Pride in Production initiative will see online courses and training given to screen industry professionals and organizations to improve the day-to-day reality of workplace inclusion, safety and culture for the queer community in Canadian media and entertainment. The potential benefits of more inclusive workplaces are 2SLGBTQIA+ professionals better placed to develop and produce diverse Canadian stories to more accurately reflect multicultural audiences at home and worldwide.
Already the Canadian industry has made gains with groundbreaking queer TV series like the gay hockey romance series Heated Rivalry and the non-binary comedy Sort Of. The Pride in Production effort comes as the Canadian media industry continues to advance diversity, equity and inclusion to transform its workplaces just as Hollywood retreats from DEI programs as U.S. President Donald Trump cracks down on “woke” policies.
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, whose death sparked protests for racial justice, the Canadian film and TV industry, backed by government financing and tax credits, first committed itself to greater diversity of creative voices, including new talent from the country’s Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.
The Pride in Production initiative has backing from the Canada Media Fund, the biggest Canadian TV financier, and representatives for major indie producers like Shaftesbury, Antica Productions, Catalyst and Blink49 Studios.
“Creating 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive workplaces isn’t just about fairness. It helps Canada’s screen industries do their best work. When people feel comfortable being themselves at work, it leads to more creativity, and stronger stories. This toolkit is a useful resource to help make that happen,” Mathieu Chantelois, executive vp of communications, strategy and public affairs at the Canada Media Fund, said in a statement.
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