London lacks a physical resource center for LGBTQ+ members of the community, but Queer Intersections, a local group, is trying to change that.
“Queer Intersections is working towards opening a queer and trans Community Center here in London,” says President of Queer Intersections Tayden McKenzie-Picot.
“In the meantime, while we’re still sorting out funding and location, we’re hosting some social activities in London. So, we focused a lot on different populations that don’t often have programming available to them, like queer families, queer seniors, people with disabilities, and youth.”
One such event is at Stony Creek Dog Park. It’s a meetup for LGBTQ+ members with dogs to enjoy not only nature and dogs but each other’s company.
“We’ve done a community barbecue that is our annual event, and our next one’s coming up in June. Then we have rainbow families where we partner with Child Reach for queer and trans families and their children.”
Neither Fanshawe College nor Western University have a physical space for LGBTQ+ students either, only having student-run groups to serve their LGBTQ+ communities.
“Well, we have a dramatic increase in the amount of LGBT hatred. There’s political pressure to stifle transgender affirming care,” says board member of Queer Intersections Candice Lawrence.
“I have many friends that are being harassed online for being trans or non-binary, and we’ve got a climate right now with all the polarization in society with sort of the hatred that’s seeping up from the states, but it wouldn’t take hold here unless there were hateful people here.”
Some political figures in Canada, like Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, have targeted transgender rights.
“I think safe spaces are important, and there are pockets of safe space all around London, you know, different activities and events where it is safe, but it would be nice to have a permanent safe place where different groups in our community could hold smaller Community groups based on a shared idea.”
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