Photo by Tamara Steele.
Saint John celebrated the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia with a flag-raising outside city hall Monday.
The city raised the Progress Pride flag, an update on the rainbow flag in order to express support for more marginalized sections of the Queer community including transgender people and people of colour.
Lieutenant-Governor Brenda Murphy was the flag-raiser. She says years ago she never would have thought an event like this was possible in her lifetime.
“I think it’s quite remarkable that my wife and I are standing here and doing this. 20 years ago I wouldn’t have imagined this,” Murphy said. “A lot has changed and I think we can celebrate that.”
However, Murphy added the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is also a reminder that the struggle for equality continues worldwide.
“We can’t say everything’s perfect, we still have a lot to do,” she said. “So it’s important to have a day like this, because then it brings it out into the public and we have that conversation again.”
Murphy said the event helps bring the concept of ‘intersectionality’ to the forefront.
“If you’re a young person who’s gay and you also maybe are new to this country, or you may live in poverty, those all just pile on to it,” she said.
Monday’s flag raising brought out a number of younger Saint Johners to city hall. Murphy believes the younger generation is more accepting of the Queer community.
“It’s important to have these kinds of days, to have these conversations, not just one day a year,” Murphy said. “Hopefully it brings it more to the attention of the general public and we start to make a difference and call out discrimination when we see it.”
