A strong message resonated from a Pride Walk in Fort Frances.
A couple of hundred people joined in a cross-border walk from International Falls to Fort Frances.
It is believed to be the one of its kind to cross the border between two countries.
The pandemic curtailed the event for the last few years.
“But as we continue our work to recognize the dignity and value of all members of our community, and to build figurative bridges between members of our community, today, we are again able to cross a literal bridge, too, in celebration of that unity of purpose, and to recognize that our sense of Pride knows no borders. No borders of nationality, of gender, of faith, of colour, of ability,” says Doug Judson, co-chair of Borderland Pride.
There is concern, however, with the increased hate toward the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, especially trans and drag, originating in the U.S. and filtering into Canada.
“Dozens of U.S. State houses are adopting legislation intended to erase, if not to exterminate, trans people and the drag community from public life.
Their anti-trans rhetoric, in particular, is going to cost people their lives and ruin lives.”
“The dog whistle support from some corners of the Canadian conservative movement, in particular, is deeply troubling and foretell the difficulties we may face ahead.”
Judson, a lawyer, says his firm has taken on many cases involving the queer and trans community who have been defamed as pedophiles on the Internet.
Borderland Pride is also engaged in an unresolved Ontario Human Rights case against the Township of Emo for council’s decision in 2020 to refuse to recognize Pride Month.
Judson says it is more reason to have strong voices to confront hatred and political attacks against the Pride movement.
He challenges people to think about how they or their organization and business can better support queer and trans people and to be more vigilant, unrelenting and strong in their advocacy.
“Vote for people who support our community, and vote with your wallets and refuse to support those who wish to harm the ones you love. Give a dose of tough love to those in your families or workplaces who start spewing nonsense about 2SLGBTQIA+ people. And most of all, ensure that the spaces that we ourselves are providing are safe for one another.”
The reality is that love is love isn’t enough. Right now, Pride needs people to fight for it. Pride needs you every single day. We need more than fair-weather allies and rainbow-washed corporate logos.”
