Queer people in Kelowna say that hate towards 2SLGBTQIA+ communities is on the rise, and they are calling on the federal government for help.

But, locally, it is unclear what Member of Parliment for Kelowna91裸聊视频揕ake Country, Tracy Gray, is doing to take action.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an issue here in the Okanagan,91裸聊视频� said the founder of Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Advocacy Canada, Wilbur Turner.

He said he has noticed an increase in hate against the queer community over the past few years.

91裸聊视频淚n 27 years of doing advocacy work, I91裸聊视频檝e never seen anything like this.91裸聊视频�

A 2021 analysis of 2SLGBTQIA+ people states that police reported a 41 per cent increase in hate crimes targeting queer people in 2019, when compared to the year before.

Additionally, Statistics Canada reports that in 2018, queer people were twice as likely as heterosexual people to report experiencing inappropriate behaviours and harassment in public, online and at work over the past year.

Kelowna has seen protests at drag story time as well as performances and Turner said that he and his colleagues at Advocacy Canada and Pride Kelowna have been subject to hate speech.

91裸聊视频淲e have seen protests that were kind of ugly.91裸聊视频�

READ MORE: Protesters clash with attendee at Kelowna drag show; police investigating

READ MORE: Rainbow flags, motorcycle club and unicorns attend Kelowna Drag Story Time

READ MORE: West Kelowna anti-91裸聊视频榳oke91裸聊视频� education billboard stirs up controversy

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e scared91裸聊视频� We91裸聊视频檙e scared about what could happen,91裸聊视频� said Turner. 91裸聊视频淭he people I worry about are the youth.91裸聊视频�

Advocacy Canada has been working with the municipal and provincial government to ensure queer people in the Okanagan are safe.

The group has also joined the national #Act4QueerSafety campaign which calls on the federal government to address rising anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate.

The initiative was started by Momentum Canada and includes an online petition for the public to voice their desire for the federal government to take action and gives examples of what they believe should be done.

When Kelowna-Lake Country Member of Parliament Tracy Gray was contacted with a link to the petition asking what she is doing to address 2SLGBTQIA+ hate in her constituency, she responded by saying, 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 unfamiliar with the activities of this national advocacy organization. I believe we need to stand against all hate, violence and discrimination towards any group. As with any federal legislation or policy, I91裸聊视频檓 always willing to meet with residents of Kelowna-Lake Country to hear what is important to them.91裸聊视频�

Capital News then asked to schedule an appointment to meet with Gray and were told 91裸聊视频淢P Gray91裸聊视频檚 schedule is full and isn91裸聊视频檛 available for an interview as requested.91裸聊视频�

Multiple phone messages and emails were left with Gray91裸聊视频檚 office over the past week.

In 2021 Gray was banned from all Kelowna Pride events after she voted against a bill that would ban conversion therapy. Gray later voted in favour of a bill that amended the Criminal Code to ban conversion therapy in Canada.

Dan Albas, the Member of Parliament for Central Okanagan 91裸聊视频� Similkameen 91裸聊视频� Nicola, spoke with Capital News about hate towards 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

Albas said that he unequivocally condemns anti-2SLGBTQIA+ hate. He said that he stands with queer people and hopes to speak with activists in the near future to discuss what he can do to help. Albas also noted that he is willing to help people create an which the government of Canada is required to reply to should it garner more than 25 signatures.

Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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