Advanced Education and Skills
May 14, 2015

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills:

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to recognize Sunday, May 17, as International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

The theme of this year’s campaign is Stand with LGBT Youth, and it calls on all of us to support young people as they advocate for visibility, respect and equality for persons of all genders and sexual orientations.

Mr. Speaker, this day is dedicated to raising awareness of homophobia and transphobia, and campaigning against it by celebrating gender and sexual diversity.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, vulnerable populations, including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, are subjected to acts of violence in schools, workplaces and communities and experience higher rates of violent victimization than heterosexual individuals.

The first step toward preventing these types of violence is to educate our residents on the importance of diversity in all sectors of our society. Women, children and youth, Aboriginal persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, LGBT individuals, persons of varying race or ethnicity, and persons of differing economic status have the right to live free of the fear of violence or abuse.

Mr. Speaker, as part of the Violence Prevention Initiative, our Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence are planning and participating in events throughout the province to recognize International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. For example, the Bay St. George Coalition to End Violence is joining with Western Pride to hold a flag-raising and proclamation signing in Stephenville. In addition, Burin Peninsula Voice Against Violence is working with the local high school to create information displays and distribute Pride flags to students.

Also, on Sunday, May 24, Planned Parenthood - Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Health Centre will hold a breakfast to recognize the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and I encourage everyone to find out more about this event.

Mr. Speaker, I invite all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and in acknowledging the hard work that Planned Parenthood and our Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence do on a daily basis. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador remains fully committed to working to prevent all forms of violence so that residents of Newfoundland and Labrador can live in violence-free communities.

2015 05 14                             2:00 p.m.