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 Kelownasa国际传媒揕ake Country, Tracy Gray, is doing to take action.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 an issue here in the Okanagan,sa国际传媒� said the founder of Kelownasa国际传媒檚 Advocacy Canada, Wilbur Turner.
He said he has noticed an increase in hate against the queer community over the past few years.
sa国际传媒淚n 27 years of doing advocacy work, Isa国际传媒檝e never seen anything like this.sa国际传媒�
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.
sa国际传媒淲e have seen protests that were kind of ugly.sa国际传媒�
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sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e scaredsa国际传媒� Wesa国际传媒檙e scared about what could happen,sa国际传媒� said Turner. sa国际传媒淭he people I worry about are the youth.sa国际传媒�
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, sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 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, Isa国际传媒檓 always willing to meet with residents of Kelowna-Lake Country to hear what is important to them.sa国际传媒�
Capital News then asked to schedule an appointment to meet with Gray and were told sa国际传媒淢P Graysa国际传媒檚 schedule is full and isnsa国际传媒檛 available for an interview as requested.sa国际传媒�
Multiple phone messages and emails were left with Graysa国际传媒檚 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 sa国际传媒� Similkameen sa国际传媒� 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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