Saint John marks International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

Today's important for me personally because of the hatred and transphobia I've experienced in my community and throughout my school. It's important for me specifically because I realize that events like this give lots of students like me, like my family, a place to feel safe and a place to feel welcomed. I think having a visible thing to look at to show that the community supports the LGBTQ plus community is really important. You know, words are one thing, actions are another. And I think today we saw a lovely combination of both. And on the one hand, it is, you know, just a flag. But anyone who's coming from Saint John High or Saint Malachy's or any of the schools in the area who's going to the library can see this flying at, you know, one of the important buildings, City Hall, and know that there are people, you know, with authority, with power that are there to support them. It's extremely important to raise the flag for the community, especially nowadays where we're seeing a lot of rhetoric that's kind of like we're baiting and. Dehumanizing queer people, especially non binary and trans folks that we haven't really seen before. It's unprecedented. And even though it may seem like something smaller, insignificant to people who are not part of the queer community, it actually makes a really huge difference for those who are and shows that especially levels of government who are the ones flying the flags that society as a whole is recognizing their importance and their value. And not just tolerating them, but actually accepting them in society despite the hatred that they might be feeling from individuals.