Policy on Discrimination and Harassment Because of Sexual Orientation by the Ontario Human Rights Commission
Approved 2000. Revised 2006. Minor revisions 2009.
Contents
Purpose of OHRC Policies....................................................................................2
The context: sexual orientation, human rights protections, case law and
legislation..............................................................................................................3
Introduction ...........................................................................................................3
Sexual orientation .................................................................................................3
Homophobia and heterosexism ............................................................................4
A further word about terminology..........................................................................4
The purpose and scope of the policy ....................................................................5
International protections........................................................................................5
The Canadian context...........................................................................................6
Sexual orientation in provincial and federal human rights protections ..............6
Recognition of same-sex relationships .............................................................7
A note on balancing rights ................................................................................8
The policy framework............................................................................................9
Discrimination based on sexual orientation...........................................................9
Forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation ..........................................10
Harassment ....................................................................................................11
Poisoned environment....................................................................................12
Confidentiality and sexual orientation .............................................................12
Systemic discrimination ..................................................................................14
Organizational culture.....................................................................................14
Policies, procedures and rules........................................................................15
Reasonable and bona fide requirements........................................................16
Discrimination because of association............................................................17
Discrimination because of perceived sexual orientation .................................17
Comments or conduct need not be explicit.....................................................18
Relationships between sexual orientation and other Code grounds ..................18
Sex .................................................................................................................19
Marital status and family status ......................................................................19
Intersectionality and overlapping grounds ......................................................20
Organizational responsibility ...............................................................................21
Vicarious liability .............................................................................................22
The "organic theory" of corporate responsibility .............................................23
Employment, services, and housing ...................................................................23
Employment....................................................................................................24
Services..........................................................................................................25
Accommodation (housing) ..............................................................................26
Preventing and responding to homophobia and discrimination based on sexual
orientation ...........................................................................................................27
Protecting confidentiality of information ..........................................................27
Barrier review and removal.............................................................................27
Anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies............................................29
Developing anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies .........................29
Promoting anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies...........................30
For more information...........................................................................................31
