Iqaluit Rainbow Rally calls for more support for 2SLGBTQ+ people
At least 30 people attend Thursday gathering at Four Corners
A group of people congregate at Iqaluit’s Four Corners Thursday to take part in a Rainbow Rally for Equality in Iqaluit. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Approximately 30 people rallied in Iqaluit Thursday to call for more support for lesbian, gay, transgender, queer and two-spirit people.
The Rainbow Rally for Equality was one of several similar events taking place across Canada as part of a national week of action for 2SLGBTQ+ equality, led by the organization Society for Queer Momentum.
At Iqaluit’s Four Corners, speakers called on politicians in Nunavut and elsewhere to continue their support for these communities.
Among the speakers were organizers Del Drachenberg and Catherine Lightfoot, Nunavut MP Lori Idlout, former MP Jack Anawak and Nunavut Employees Union president Jason Rochon.
As the rally went on, staying on the side of the road so as not to block traffic, drivers passing by honked and waved in support.
Drachenberg said the rally was meant to ensure Nunavut continues to be a safe place for young people with diverse sexual and gender identities.
Drachenberg said coming out in Nunavut felt like a safe experience, thanks in part to support from the school system, and that it’s important for territorial leaders to follow suit.
“I would like to see [politicians] continue to enshrine the rights of transgender people and queer people; I really want them to make a statement that they’re going to continue to make sure that those rights are not tampered with,” Drachenberg said.
“I love everything about Iqaluit and I want it to be a place where my fellow trans and queer people can feel that love too.”
More Rainbow Rallies are taking place Friday at city halls and legislative buildings across Canada, in commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
Drachenberg and Lightfoot said they also hope to help organize a Pride parade in June, which is Pride Month.
My kids are kids. They play outside instead of iphoning, samsunging, or other electronics gadgets. They have no idea about politics, wars, L.G.B.T.Q, and other stuff that’s happening. The only parade they know is the “New Years” vehicles parades. I intend to keep it that way. Do not include/force my and other parents’ children to participate in your parade. You can live your life anyhow you want to. Just keep my children excluded.
Let them , have their piece of the pie, so humanity can become ,a big happy family.
LGBTQ youth are three times more likely to attempt suicide.
Many LBGTQ youth have trouble accepting who they are because of the way they are seen by others, like yourself.
There are protective factors, such as having support from the family, a safe school environment, and a safe and supportive work environment as well as access to psychological and medical care.
Kids can play, but when and if they need to support when they grow up, hopefully those resources are there, so that they don’t end up as a statistic.
There is a wide acceptance of the gender LBGT2… all are free to choose issue in Canada, not a problem. The reason why it is on and on making headline news is because the people who own the press see it is to their advantage to run the stories, be it for the distraction, the division it creates, or whatever. Power has corrupted and the greater the concentration of power there is the deeper the corruption.
LBGT2 is not a gender,
Correct. Gender is a social construction. Thank you for pointing that out. <3
Absolutely correct, it is an ideology.
Then don’t go. lol!