2023-05-17 • Halifax
About 35 people attended the flag raising in Halifax. Lisa Lachance (she/they), NSNDP spokesperson for 2SLGBTQI+ Affairs and MLA for Halifax, hosted the event; before the flag raising she met with Q folk and presented some of their ideas in her short speech.
Other speakers were Susanne Litke (she/her), Queer lawyer, past-chair and board member of the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project; Rayne Frost (they/he), GSA co-lead for Bay View High School; and Vincent Mousseau (they/them, iel avec accords masculins), registered social worker and PhD student at Dalhousie.
“In the last number of months, we’ve heard too many examples of hatred and homophobia in communities across Nova Scotia,” said Lachance. “It’s not a small thing to raise the flag at Province House or to hear MLAs use the gender-neutral honorific Mx. when I’m in the Speaker’s chair. We need more of these kinds of things, so everyone can see themselves reflected in the decision-making process at the highest levels of power in our province.”
In the last number of months, we’ve heard too many examples of hatred and homophobia in communities across Nova Scotia.
Premier Tim Houston also tweeted: "No matter how you identify or who you live, you have a place here in our province and are important to it. Today marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Over the past several weeks, we've seen a number of reports of hate or threats to the community. Physical threats of violence and intimidation are unacceptable and have no place in our province. This is not who we are as Nova Scotians. It's important we all commit to building a safe and inclusive province for all."
Towards the end of her speech, Lachance had a list of requests:
- When I ask the Premier to condemn transphobia and hate on Trans Day of Visibility, I want him to do so unequivocally.
- I want the Minister of Health to announce immediately that MSI will cover Gender affirming care as set out in the WPATH standards of care.
- I want the Minister of Education to stand up and say no to homophobia, transphobia and biphobia in schools and ensure that schools have the resources needed to act and create truly safe schools.
- We need a government actively standing against hate and transphobia.
- We need a Minister of 2SLGBTQI+ issues and an Action Plan for this province. The Liberals were silent on 2SLGBQTI+ issues for 8 years and continue to be, without any official spokesperson.
Suzanne Litke brought her flag, which was vandalized on April 5th, and has been repaired quite beautifully; there's a Wayves article about that, here.
Click the "Gallery" button, top right, for the photos.
