Provincial Government Recognizes International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Executive Council
May 15, 2015

Supporting Safer Communities

Provincial Government Recognizes International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

The Provincial Government is recognizing Sunday, May 17, as the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in Newfoundland and Labrador. The goal of this day is to raise awareness about gender and sexual diversity throughout the province, as a means of eliminating homophobia and transphobia.

ï¿½Our government recognizes that everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador should be free to express their sexual orientation and gender identity without fear of violence or abuse. Through our commitment to the Violence Prevention Initiative, we will continue to raise awareness as we strive to create a society free of violence for all residents of the province, including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.ï¿½
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

The theme of this yearï¿½s campaign is Stand with LGBT Youth. This theme encourages everyone to support young people as they advocate for visibility, respect and equality for persons of all gender and sexual identity.

ï¿½The ability to live without fear of violence is a right for everyone in a modern society, regardless of gender or sexual identity. Through our partnerships with 34 Community Youth Networks throughout the province, we promote diversity and inclusion, and provide supports for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.ï¿½
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister Responsible for the Office of Public Engagement

A number of community stakeholder organizations, including Planned Parenthood-NL Sexual Health Centre, are also hosting events to raise awareness of homophobia and transphobia.

ï¿½As Executive Director of Planned Parenthood, I am very pleased to be hosting our annual breakfast on Sunday, May 24, which recognizes the issue of homophobia and transphobia in Newfoundland and Labrador. At Planned Parenthood, we encourage everyone to take a positive approach to sexual health. Our goal is a province where everyone experiences positive sexual health. Positive sexual health means respect, consent and inclusion.ï¿½
- Alicia Cox, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood-NL Sexual Health Centre

Many of the Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence are holding events across the province as part of the Violence Prevention Initiative. Contact information for each committee can be found in the backgrounder below.

The Provincial Government remains committed to preventing violence against all vulnerable populations by working with over 30 community partners and departments and agencies to ensure all residents live in violence-free communities.

QUICK FACTS

The Provincial Government is recognizing May 17 as International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Budget 2015 includes over $2.5 million for 34 Community Youth Networks across the province, which promote diversity and inclusion and provide supports for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
Information on the Violence Prevention Initiative can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/vpi.
Information about Planned Parenthood-NL Sexual Health Centre is available at www.nlsexualhealthcentre.org.

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Media contacts:

Gina MacArthur Communications Specialist Womenï¿½s Policy Office 709-729-6225 ginamacarthur@gov.nl.ca	Alicia Cox Executive Director Planned Parenthood-NL Sexual Health Centre 709-579-1009 executivedirector@nlsexualhealthcentre.org
Kip Bonnell Communications Manager Office of Public Engagement 709-729-1221 kbonnell@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER
Regional Coordinating Committees against Violence

Coalition Against Violence-Eastern Avalon //www.coalitionagainstviolence.ca Catherine Dwyer, Executive Director 31 Peet Street ï¿½ Tara Place, Suite 215 St. Johnï¿½s, NL A1B 3W8 Tel: 709-757-0137 Fax: 709-754-4949 cavae.save.now@gmail.com	Communities Against Violence Stacy Harris, Executive Director 17 St. Clare Avenue, P.O. Box 130 Carbonear, NL A1Y 1B6 Tel: 709-597-3161 info@communitiesagainstviolence.org
Burin Peninsula Voice Against Violence //www.bpvav.com/ Melanie Cleal, Executive Director 60 Atlantic Crescent P.O. Box 87 Marystown, NL AOE 2MO Tel: 709-279-4030 Fax: 709-279-5387 bpvav@nf.aibn.com	Eastern Region Committee Against Violence //www.ercav.ca/home/ Tracey Fleming, Executive Director Eastern Regional Committee Against Violence 105 Manitoba Dr., Suite 304 Clarenville, NL A5A 1K2 Tel: 709-466-4676 Fax: 709-466-4670 ercav@gov.nl.ca
The Roads to End Violence //www.roadstoendviolence.ca/ Lori Oram, Executive Director 157 Airport Boulevard Gander, NL A1V 1K6 Tel: 709-651-2250 Fax: 709-651-2295 info@roadstoendviolence.ca	Violence Prevention South and Central Linda Nuotio-Flynn, Executive Director 5 Hardy Ave Grand Falls-Windsor, NL A2A 2P8 Tel: 709-489-8828 Fax: 709-489-8620 ed@vpsc.ca
Western Regional Coalition to End Violence //www.wrcev.ca/ Victoria Jones, Executive Director P.O. Box 373 2 Carmen Avenue Corner Brook, NL A2H 6E3 Tel: 709-634-6606 Fax: 709-639-1093 wrcoalitiontoendviolence@gmail.com	Southwestern Coalition to End Violence //www.swcev.ca/ Bernice Hancock, Coordinating Agency Representative 31 ï¿½ 37 Gallant Street P.O. Box 621 Stephenville, NL A2N 3B5 Tel: 709-643-1022 / 643-5399 Fax: 709-643-2293 swceviolence@gmail.com
Northern Committee Against Violence //www.ncav.ca/home/ Darlene Rice, Executive Director 279 West Street P.O. Box 847 St. Anthony, NL AOK 4SO Tel: 709-454-3351 Fax: 709-454-2334 darlenerice@gov.nl.ca	Violence Prevention Labrador //www.vplabrador.ca/home/ Carmen Hancock, Executive Director P.O. Box 23 Forteau, NL A0K 2P0 Tel: 709-931-2600 Toll Free: 1-866-446-8080 Fax: 709-931-2601 coordinator@vplabrador.ca

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