Letter: Intolerance greets LGBT initiative

To the editor,

Thunder Bay Counselling Centre and NorWest Community Health Centres recently hosted the Safe Spaces training series, aimed at promoting safe and welcoming environments for lesbian, gay and bisexuals in our local workplaces, schools and community organizations.

The amount of negative comment that has been publicly aired in response to this series has certainly confirmed to our agencies and to our partners why we still have so much work to do in Thunder Bay.

It has been clearly communicated that there is a great deal of intolerance in Thunder Bay’s neighbourhoods towards those who may be different. While Canada has made significant advancements in human-rights legislation and the law, it seems that our local attitudes have not advanced so positively.

Thunder Bay Counselling Centre, NorWest Community Health Centres and our partner agencies believe that all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race or culture have the right to be safe where they live and work. We are committed to working together to ensure that every individual, couple and family feels respected.

As Canadians we are celebrated around the world for our welcoming ways and liberal approach to life. However, it seems that when the world is not watching, we are actually a lot less accepting and compassionate than we claim.

Nancy Chamberlain, Executive Director
Thunder Bay Counselling Centre

Wendy Talbot , Executive Director
NorWest Community Health Centres