Vancouver Pride Society speaks out on issues facing the 2SLGBTQ+ community

The Vancouver Pride Festival is in full swing, with various events taking place across the city.

But underneath the celebratory atmosphere, the Vancouver Pride Society says Pride is a protest and an important part of the fight for equality for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Alan Daly, co-chair of Vancouver Pride, says Canadian society has come a long way, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.

‘We are seeing rights and healthcare and privileges being taken away from people in our community, and we need to push back against that,” Daly said.

“We are seeing a rise in hate and alt-right groups attacking, using our community as a platform in politics to push their own agenda and using false information about our community.”

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Daly points toward what’s been happening in neighbouring Alberta, where proposed policy changes would restrict transgender people’s access to hormone therapy and surgery and affect their participation in sports, as well as require parental consent for students 15 and under who want to change their names or pronouns.

“It really does create a divide,” he said. “I think we are stronger as a community and we are stronger when we have allies on our side.”

On Friday, a closed-door meeting between Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and select 2SLGBTQ+ community members drew criticism, with protesters outside the meeting saying that the trans community was not being represented.

Daly says that despite what is happening to our provincial neighbours, this weekend is about celebrating the love and joy in the community and keeping it strong.

“Pride is a recognition of how far we have come and a recognition that we have a lot more work to do, even within our own community,” he said.

“We still have some in our community that are transphobic, and we need to work together. We are much stronger together as a community.”