The Society of Queer Momentum, in partnership with Fierté Canada Pride and the Enchanté Network, along with activists and organizations across the country are organizing a national campaign titled the Rainbow Week of Action to push back against rising hate targeting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Running from May 11 to 17, the week will see rallies and other events in cities across Canada.
“2SLGBTQ+ people have always taken care of each other through building strong communities and fighting for the world we deserve. During a time of rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate and violence, having our communities show up from coast to coast to coast to send a strong message that we’re not going to let our hard-won rights be eroded,” said Curran Stikuts in an email to rabble.ca.
Stikuts is director of advocacy and strategic communications at The 519, a 2SLGBTQIA+ non-profit support organization based in Toronto.
The 519, in partnership with Pride Toronto, is organizing a rally in Toronto on May 16 at Barbara Hall Park. The rally will focus on the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees as well as the overall rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate.
“The 519 has seen an unprecedented rise in the number of 2SLGBTQIA+ refugee claimants seeking support, with over 8,000 in 2023 coming to The 519 for help in 2023 – a 300 plus per cent rise since 2023,” Stikuts explained. “This work happens every day of the year. As we enter pride season, we will continue to highlight the ongoing gaps in support for 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees as well as fight back against the ongoing coordinated attacks against 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.”
Pushing back against persecution
The past year has seen rising instances of institutional persecution against members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community across North America.
In 2023 and early 2024, conservative premiers in three Canadian provinces instituted harsh discriminatory laws against members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Blaine Higgs of New Brunswick, Scott Moe of Saskatchewan, and Danielle Smith of Alberta all instituted new restrictions that specifically targeted trans youth. These new restrictions all required trans youth to get parental or guardian permission before they are allowed to use their correct pronouns in schools. Smith had gone as far as to propose blocking trans youth from receiving gender-affirming care.
READ MORE: In Alberta’s new war on trans people, children will suffer
Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre joined in with the anti-trans hate by making transphobic remarks earlier this year.
These actions taken by conservative leaders have occurred at the same time as far-right extremist protests have increasingly taken place in Canada in recent years.
Last fall saw the so-called 1 Million March 4 Children, which was a national demonstration purportedly aimed at “protecting kids,” but instead was used as a way to amplify phobias against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
The Society of Queer Momentum says on their website that this is exactly why the Rainbow Week of Action is needed.
“In the last two years, we’ve seen hundreds of hate-motivated protests targeting our community, accompanied by a rise in hate-motivated violence. In the last year, three Canadian provinces have begun restricting the rights and freedoms of transgender youth and their families,” the statement on the Society’s website reads.
Rainbow Week of Action is aimed at pressuring elected officials to reject anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate and for governments at all levels to increase protections of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and support for 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations.
A full list of events for Rainbow Week can be found on the Society of Queer Momentum’s website.
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
