The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer community has found acceptance in most aspects of Thunder Bay society.
Though no longer pilloried like they once were for their sexual orientation, it still faces pockets of discrimination, especially online.
On Friday a local group took aim at cyber-bullying of the LGBTQ population, joining a worldwide campaign, Fight the Homophobia Web Virus to kick off the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Robin Cooper, a health promotion planner at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, and a member of the Sexual and Gender Equity working group, said acceptance still isn’t 100 per cent in the city.
“As we know, there is a lot of cyber bullying, and unfortunately that isn’t restricted. There are people from the LGBT community that also experience bullying on the web,” Cooper said, moments after helping raise the Pride flag in front of city hall.
“What we’re trying to do is get the word out that it needs to stop and we all have a role to play and making sure we stand up to that. If see homophobic bullying, hear about it, read about it, that we stand up and make our voices heard, because it’s the only way we’re going to make our community safer for everyone.”
The city has made tremendous progress since the 1970s, the early heyday of gay liberation and activism and the start of community-wide acceptance.
Recent developments have sped up the change. The third annual Thunder Pride event is scheduled for June 9 to 16, Cooper said.
“But we need to make sure that it stays on people’s radar. Some of the bullying has gone on underground or anonymously on the web. That’s why we need to keep people talking about it.”
David Belrose is a community outreach worker with Rainbow Health Ontario.
He said it’s clear there is still a lot of fear in the LGBTQ community, who still face hostility in some circles.
“A day like this ... is a day to remind people for the need to continue to work on the celebration of diversity,” Wilson said.
