LGBTQ

Paul Canary Kanyamu marches with Reaching ‘Out’ for LGBTQ and Allies of Brechin United Church, during Nanaimo’s Pride Parade on June 11. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

LGBTQ refugees feel at home in Nanaimo after fleeing violence and oppression

Reaching Out Assisting Refugees’ Picnic en Blanc fundraiser to be held July 15

Paul Canary Kanyamu marches with Reaching ‘Out’ for LGBTQ and Allies of Brechin United Church, during Nanaimo’s Pride Parade on June 11. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
An Ottawa Senators player warms-up with rainbow-coloured hockey tape prior to taking on the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t wear themed warmup jerseys for the team’s annual Pride night celebration Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

McDavid no fan of NHL decision on themed jerseys after Pride refusals

‘We strongly feel hockey is for everybody, and that includes the Pride nights’

An Ottawa Senators player warms-up with rainbow-coloured hockey tape prior to taking on the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t wear themed warmup jerseys for the team’s annual Pride night celebration Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Participants walk in the Toronto Pride Parade, in Toronto, Sunday June 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Celebration and protest erupts during Canada’s largest Pride parade in Toronto

‘This year in particular, it’s been important for the queer community to show up’

Participants walk in the Toronto Pride Parade, in Toronto, Sunday June 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Mia Johnson, representing the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, takes the parade route at a run during Nanaimo’s Pride parade Sunday, June 11. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

More threats mean greater focus on security at Pride events across Canada

For the first time in its decade-long history, the Pride festival in…

Mia Johnson, representing the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, takes the parade route at a run during Nanaimo’s Pride parade Sunday, June 11. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
FILE - Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Radko Gudas (7) warm up while wearing a Pride Night hockey jersey before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 23, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. Bobrovsky, who is Russian, did take part in warmups the night the Staal brothers declined and in the aftermath of several countrymen deciding not to wear Pride jerseys. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin, File)

NHL drops theme-night jerseys after Pride refusals cause distractions

Bettman: ‘(It’s) more of a distraction from really the essence of what the purpose of these nights are’

FILE - Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) and defenseman Radko Gudas (7) warm up while wearing a Pride Night hockey jersey before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 23, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. Bobrovsky, who is Russian, did take part in warmups the night the Staal brothers declined and in the aftermath of several countrymen deciding not to wear Pride jerseys. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin, File)
Jennifer Charlesworth, B.C.’s representative for children and youth is seen in Victoria on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Charlesworth says her office conducted a review of critical injury and death reports of youth between 2018 and 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner

Anti-trans hate speech causing ‘great harm,’ to gender-diverse children: Report

Representative for Children and Youth calls on government to address disinformation, discrimination

Jennifer Charlesworth, B.C.’s representative for children and youth is seen in Victoria on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Charlesworth says her office conducted a review of critical injury and death reports of youth between 2018 and 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner
Fae Johnstone, a transgender activist who was one of five women featured on limited-edition Hershey chocolate bars in March, is seen in an undated handout photo. Experts and LGBTQ community members say they are concerned about the normalization of anti-LGBTQ hate and its impact on mental health and safety, as online rhetoric spills into the real world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fae Johnstone

Fears for LGBTQ mental health, as flood of online hate spills into real world

Fae Johnstone says “nothing ever could have prepared” her for the barrage…

Fae Johnstone, a transgender activist who was one of five women featured on limited-edition Hershey chocolate bars in March, is seen in an undated handout photo. Experts and LGBTQ community members say they are concerned about the normalization of anti-LGBTQ hate and its impact on mental health and safety, as online rhetoric spills into the real world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fae Johnstone
Human rights activist Paul Canary Kanyamu is shown in a handout photo. Kanyamu says life felt like “hell on Earth” before he escaped Africa and found refuge in Vancouver about two months ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

After escaping violence and persecution, LGBTQ refugees find peace in Canada

Paul Canary Kanyamu says life felt like “hell on Earth” before he…

Human rights activist Paul Canary Kanyamu is shown in a handout photo. Kanyamu says life felt like “hell on Earth” before he escaped Africa and found refuge in Vancouver about two months ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Alana Delcourt and Henrietta Dubet strike a pose while browsing the shops celebrating Pride Day in Sidney Saturday, June 17. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Sidney Pride Day celebrates LGBTQ2S+ community

Businesses throughout the downtown core put out colourful displays in celebration and support

Alana Delcourt and Henrietta Dubet strike a pose while browsing the shops celebrating Pride Day in Sidney Saturday, June 17. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Loyal Wooldridge. (Contributed)

People of privilege called on to support queer community after ‘hate crime’ in Kelowna

City Councillor Ron Cannon said all people should be respected after a surge homophobia

Loyal Wooldridge. (Contributed)
J. Harrison Ghee accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for "Some Like It Hot" at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theater in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
J. Harrison Ghee accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical for "Some Like It Hot" at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theater in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
Several of the pride banners the City of Langford put up along Goldstream Avenue were vandalized less than a day after being installed. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Five Pride banners vandalized within 24 hours in Langford

Banners sprayed with paint, replaced by city staff

Several of the pride banners the City of Langford put up along Goldstream Avenue were vandalized less than a day after being installed. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
(Photo- Ajeet Brar/Facebook)

Penticton rainbow crosswalk vandalized less than 48 hours after installation

Leaders in the community issued a statement on May 24, condemning hate towards the project

(Photo- Ajeet Brar/Facebook)
Customers make their way through the parking lot of a Target store Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers. (AP Photo/George Walker IV

Target on the defensive after removing some products aimed at LGBTQ+

Target once distinguished itself as being boldly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.…

Customers make their way through the parking lot of a Target store Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers. (AP Photo/George Walker IV
Pride month merchandise is displayed at the front of a Target store in Hackensack, N.J., Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Target on the defensive after removing LGBTQ+-themed products

Target once distinguished itself as being boldly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.…

Pride month merchandise is displayed at the front of a Target store in Hackensack, N.J., Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Target is removing certain items from its stores and making other changes to its LGBTQ+ merchandise nationwide ahead of Pride month after an intense backlash from some customers including violent confrontations with its workers. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Alex Kofi Donkor from Ghana poses for a photo in Ottawa on Friday, May 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

‘Listen to us’: LGBTQ activists seek help, prudence in raising human rights abroad

Last year, Trudeau denounced Uganda’s legislation that prescribes life imprisonment for homosexual acts

Alex Kofi Donkor from Ghana poses for a photo in Ottawa on Friday, May 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Province sets new standards for gender and sex data, which is intended to clarify the difference between gender and sex by providing alternative definitions. (Pixabay photo)

British Columbians will soon be able to self-identify gender on government forms

Province’s Gender and Sex Data Standards updated to be more inclusive, accurate

Province sets new standards for gender and sex data, which is intended to clarify the difference between gender and sex by providing alternative definitions. (Pixabay photo)
Tem McCutcheon, left, Stuart Biggs, Meika Johnson, and Genevieve Burdett accept a donation of $3,150 from Island Queers and Allies Who Care on behalf of Lake Park Society’s Camp Kin program in Cumberland. (Submitted photo)

Volunteer group seeks applicants and donors for Vancouver Island LGBTQ causes

Island Queers and Allies Who Care have donated more than $10,000 in their first year

Tem McCutcheon, left, Stuart Biggs, Meika Johnson, and Genevieve Burdett accept a donation of $3,150 from Island Queers and Allies Who Care on behalf of Lake Park Society’s Camp Kin program in Cumberland. (Submitted photo)
FILE - Lizzo arrives at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. In a concert Friday, April 21, 2023 in Knoxville, Tenn., Lizzo filled the stage with drag queens in a glittery protest against the state’s legislation designed to restrict drag performances in public. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Lizzo brings drag queens on stage, protesting Tennessee law

Pending legislation looks to restrict drag performances

FILE - Lizzo arrives at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. In a concert Friday, April 21, 2023 in Knoxville, Tenn., Lizzo filled the stage with drag queens in a glittery protest against the state’s legislation designed to restrict drag performances in public. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
A University of British Columbia expert says the image of “white, affluent men” isn’t an accurate portrayal of gay dads across North America – and it can have real-world implications. (Image: UBC)

‘White, affluent men’ isn’t accurate portrayal of gay dads in North America: UBC expert

Professor suggests gender-neutral parental leave policies, expanding IVF coverage to social infertility

A University of British Columbia expert says the image of “white, affluent men” isn’t an accurate portrayal of gay dads across North America – and it can have real-world implications. (Image: UBC)