Marking Pride month amid ‘emboldened’ rise in prejudice, bigotry 

Two queer-rights advocates in Labrador say celebrating and marking Pride month has additional importance given an increase in public and online prejudice against members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. 

“We’re not at a stage right now in our civilization where we have true inclusion,” says Torngat Mountains MHA Lela Evans, who identifies as lesbian. Evans says while progress was being made towards equality and inclusivity of queer communities, the rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ sentiment and hatred is concerning.

It’s been exacerbated by the re-election of President Donald Trump, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upholds a law restricting gender-affirming care for youth in Tennessee, and the American government ending the LGBTQ+ youth option on a suicide hotline. 

Evans says she has seen a rise in the number of residents in her region messaging her to ask why Pride month matters, while also using derogatory terms for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. That’s not new for the MHA, but the increasing number of messages she’s receiving is. Evans says the rising harassment and discrimination has been leading to 2SLGBTQIA+ residents, and their loved ones, feeling worried about their safety and well-being. 

One of the common messages is people asking, ‘Why do you have to fly the Pride flag? Like, there’s no straight flag.’ Or, ‘If you’re celebrating and supporting Pride, you’re discriminating against others,’ Evans explains, saying those messages are an indication there’s a lot of education work that needs to be done.

“The messaging is very important — the messaging around why we support Pride month and why we support flying the Pride flag,” Evans says. “What you’re saying is that this is a safe space, and you are welcome.”

People can show that message and support the community by flying a Pride flag on their homes or in their yards, or by having a poster on the wall at their businesses, homes, schools or university, Evans says. “That is not something that the general population, heterosexuals, have or need. When they go into a school, when they go into a gym, when they’re going to a place of business, they are not exposed to somebody who will ridicule them, harass them.” 

Bigotry and harassment are nothing new to Mason Woodward, a transgender man and volunteer with Safe Alliance in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. 

Last year, Safe Alliance saw an increase in the bigotry they faced locally when people put up public signs on the 5-Wing Goose Bay military base condemning members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The Canadian Armed Forces removed the posters and stated publicly that hate has no place on the base. Also last year, Pride flags were stolen from buildings like Canada Post, and Woodward says he saw an increase in people sending hate-filled messages both in public comments on Safe Alliance’s post and private messages to the volunteer group. 

“It’s definitely a different world right now,” Woodward says. “And it weighs on you; but at the same time, we’ve seen our allies absolutely come to our defense too when they see some things being put out. So it’s a mixed bag for sure.” 

Human beings are social creatures and look to their friends for how they interact and react to the world, Woodward says. If people surround themselves with others who are ignorant, bigoted, or hateful, those views can be internalized and increase one’s own prejudice or hatred toward the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, he says. “People are definitely more emboldened, and it definitely makes you a lot more aware of your surroundings.” 

Given the rise in prejudice against queer people, it’s a crucial time to support 2SLGBTQIA+ community members. “When you gotta face someone head on and risk that confrontation, and risk hurting your own reputation and stuff, when you do stand up and be an ally, it means the world to whoever you’re standing up for,” Woodward says. 

People interested in learning more about how to be an effective ally can check out Egale Canada’s resource Hate Isn’t History; they can also take a break from social media and read an article on the latest challenges the community faces, Woodward says. Self-education is important given 2SLGBTQIA+ community members face prejudice and discrimination all year long, he adds. “The queer community is part of everyday life as well, and I think the world would be a lot more boring if we were all the same.”

Safe Alliance is preparing for its Pride Week events beginning June 30. Woodward says they are seeing more volunteers sign up to help out. The events will be open to everyone and more volunteers are welcome. 

Celebrating during Pride month can make a difference to people’s mental health across the country, Evans says, adding that people in northern Labrador have had support for decades. “The acceptance may not be 100 per cent, but the fact that leaders and people present have taken it upon themselves to make sure that the space is safe, the community is safe for them, has really, really made a difference. That’s freaking amazing.

“And those supportive people in the communities are the lifeline,” Evans continues. “So when things happen and people’s mental health is impacted, if they’re a part of the group, then they have support in the community for that as well.” 

It will take time, but Evans hopes there will come a time when putting up signs or flags in support of safe public spaces won’t be needed because everywhere will be safe for 2SLGBTQIA+ community members. 

“What’s normal to society is a mixture—a diversity, right—of people who identify the way that they feel and the rules of society are evolved so that people can live the life that they choose to live, and that they don’t fear for their safety.”