The Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) unveiled a video collection talking about intersectionality and the different kinds of microaggressions marginalized people encounter to celebrate Capital Pride in Ottawa. .The first video saw three TBS employees explain what microaggressions are. .“They might be small things, everyday occurrences, but happen all of the time,” said Treasury Board Secretariat LGBTQ2+ departmental representative Jefferson Morris IV. .“They add up, so it’s called a microaggression, but it actually has a bigger macro effect.” .Morris said the people who perpetuate microaggressions are not trying to be offensive. He said these people might be curious or have made remarks without thinking them through. .The TBS employee went on to say people who make microaggressions are not terrible people. He added these people need to be aware of microaggressions because they affect others. .The second video saw Morris explain how a microaggression he experiences as a bisexual male is people asking when was the last time he dated a woman. .“To me, it feels delegitimizing,” he said. .While it is a common question, he said it's annoying because people know who they are. Their behaviour does not dictate their sexual orientation. .He said sexual orientation is fluid, and it is frustrating when people ask about his past sexual partners. This microaggression happens to him once every few months. .This latest instance of wokeness in the Canadian government comes after senators were offered a chance to undergo training to help them deal with any unconscious biases they might have in 2021..READ MORE: Senators to receive training after complaints of ‘racist micro-aggression’.The course, which came with a $15,000 tag, was not mandatory. .“The unconscious bias training opportunity being proposed today consists of an online, self-paced, e-learning course that would provide the Senate community with key foundational knowledge and skill to understand unconscious bias,” said Independent Sen. Mobina Jaffer.
The Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) unveiled a video collection talking about intersectionality and the different kinds of microaggressions marginalized people encounter to celebrate Capital Pride in Ottawa. .The first video saw three TBS employees explain what microaggressions are. .“They might be small things, everyday occurrences, but happen all of the time,” said Treasury Board Secretariat LGBTQ2+ departmental representative Jefferson Morris IV. .“They add up, so it’s called a microaggression, but it actually has a bigger macro effect.” .Morris said the people who perpetuate microaggressions are not trying to be offensive. He said these people might be curious or have made remarks without thinking them through. .The TBS employee went on to say people who make microaggressions are not terrible people. He added these people need to be aware of microaggressions because they affect others. .The second video saw Morris explain how a microaggression he experiences as a bisexual male is people asking when was the last time he dated a woman. .“To me, it feels delegitimizing,” he said. .While it is a common question, he said it's annoying because people know who they are. Their behaviour does not dictate their sexual orientation. .He said sexual orientation is fluid, and it is frustrating when people ask about his past sexual partners. This microaggression happens to him once every few months. .This latest instance of wokeness in the Canadian government comes after senators were offered a chance to undergo training to help them deal with any unconscious biases they might have in 2021..READ MORE: Senators to receive training after complaints of ‘racist micro-aggression’.The course, which came with a $15,000 tag, was not mandatory. .“The unconscious bias training opportunity being proposed today consists of an online, self-paced, e-learning course that would provide the Senate community with key foundational knowledge and skill to understand unconscious bias,” said Independent Sen. Mobina Jaffer.
