FILE PHOTO

Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Kelowna Pride Society

The bullying and victimization of a transgender youth in Kamloops earlier this month has shaken up some members of the LGBTQ2s+ community in the city and sparked a peaceful rally planned for mid-October.

The youth was reportedly surrounded by several other young people who threatened, bullied, beat up and forced the transgender youth to cut themselves, resulting in hospitalization. The youth’s mom believes her teenager was targeted because they are transgender. The names of the mother and youth have been withheld.

Ashton O’Brien is the vice president of Kamloops Pride, a non-profit organization that works to promote a more flourishing LGTBQ2s+ and queer community. O’Brien has personally experienced negative attention in Kamloops surrounding their gender expression, since first coming out as a lesbian ten years ago and more recently non-binary.

“What happened to the youth is awful and collectively we really feel for that person,” O’Brien said. “We never want these things to happen and it goes to show more work needs to be done and we are committed to driving that. We are not an authority but we work to educate the general public.”

O’Brien wants all organizations in the city to review their own policies to ensure the queer community is safe and welcomed, such as facilitating sensitivity training and making gender neutral bathrooms.

In the regards to the incident, O’Brien said they have resources for those that need them.

“We did put a supportive statement about it on social media,” O'Brien said. “Kamloops Pride has counselling resources if anyone affected by this tragic event needs help. We will keep increasing attention and keep the conversation going. If anyone wants to do a peaceful rally, we will support it.”

Alex Viner was born and raised in Kamloops. Viner expresses as non-binary and commonly receives negative attention when walking through the city.

“I have been run off one of the bus stops,” Viner said. “Two guys confronted me and told me they don’t like trans people. It was scary, they chased me for a block. It scared me so much I called my mom and later reported it to bylaw.”

Viner is always alert when out in public alone and only feels safe when in a group.

“People need to educate their kids,” Viner said. “I have seen growing awareness over the years but the compassion in our society is still lacking. We still have a long ways to go before we all feel safe and included.”

Tres Rhiness is a Kamloops resident who has been planning the rally since the incident.

“I’ve met with the family and they are on board with whatever I plan to do,” Rhiness said. “I’m also making tons of buttons that will be by donation as a fundraiser for the family. I have had meetings with some people to figure out event plans and we are still coming up with new ideas.”

The rally will be held at the bandshell in Riverside Park in Kamloops on Oct. 16 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

“Everyone is invited to join us to show support for this youth and to peacefully protest against this kind of hateful behaviour in our community,” Rhiness said.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2021