Queer people in Kelowna say that hate towards 2SLGBTQIA+ communities is on the rise, and they are calling on the federal government for help.
But, locally, it is unclear what Member of Parliment for Kelowna香蕉视频直播揕ake Country, Tracy Gray, is doing to take action.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 an issue here in the Okanagan,香蕉视频直播� said the founder of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Advocacy Canada, Wilbur Turner.
He said he has noticed an increase in hate against the queer community over the past few years.
香蕉视频直播淚n 27 years of doing advocacy work, I香蕉视频直播檝e never seen anything like this.香蕉视频直播�
A 2021 analysis of 2SLGBTQIA+ people states that police reported a 41 per cent increase in hate crimes targeting queer people in 2019, when compared to the year before.
Additionally, Statistics Canada reports that in 2018, queer people were twice as likely as heterosexual people to report experiencing inappropriate behaviours and harassment in public, online and at work over the past year.
Kelowna has seen protests at drag story time as well as performances and Turner said that he and his colleagues at Advocacy Canada and Pride Kelowna have been subject to hate speech.
香蕉视频直播淲e have seen protests that were kind of ugly.香蕉视频直播�
READ MORE: Protesters clash with attendee at Kelowna drag show; police investigating
READ MORE: Rainbow flags, motorcycle club and unicorns attend Kelowna Drag Story Time
READ MORE: West Kelowna anti-香蕉视频直播榳oke香蕉视频直播� education billboard stirs up controversy
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e scared香蕉视频直播� We香蕉视频直播檙e scared about what could happen,香蕉视频直播� said Turner. 香蕉视频直播淭he people I worry about are the youth.香蕉视频直播�
Advocacy Canada has been working with the municipal and provincial government to ensure queer people in the Okanagan are safe.
The group has also joined the national #Act4QueerSafety campaign which calls on the federal government to address rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate.
The initiative was started by Momentum Canada and includes an online petition for the public to voice their desire for the federal government to take action and gives examples of what they believe should be done.
When Kelowna-Lake Country Member of Parliament Tracy Gray was contacted with a link to the petition asking what she is doing to address 2SLGBTQIA+ hate in her constituency, she responded by saying, 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 unfamiliar with the activities of this national advocacy organization. I believe we need to stand against all hate, violence and discrimination towards any group. As with any federal legislation or policy, I香蕉视频直播檓 always willing to meet with residents of Kelowna-Lake Country to hear what is important to them.香蕉视频直播�
Capital News then asked to schedule an appointment to meet with Gray and were told 香蕉视频直播淢P Gray香蕉视频直播檚 schedule is full and isn香蕉视频直播檛 available for an interview as requested.香蕉视频直播�
Multiple phone messages and emails were left with Gray香蕉视频直播檚 office over the past week.
In 2021 Gray was banned from all Kelowna Pride events after she voted against a bill that would ban conversion therapy. Gray later voted in favour of a bill that amended the Criminal Code to ban conversion therapy in Canada.
Dan Albas, the Member of Parliament for Central Okanagan 香蕉视频直播� Similkameen 香蕉视频直播� Nicola, spoke with Capital News about hate towards 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
Albas said that he unequivocally condemns anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate. He said that he stands with queer people and hopes to speak with activists in the near future to discuss what he can do to help. Albas also noted that he is willing to help people create an which the government of Canada is required to reply to should it garner more than 25 signatures.
Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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