Members of local LGBTQ community react to PM’s intent to apologize
Local reaction to PM Trudeau’s plan to apologize to LGBT from QNet News on Vimeo.
BELLEVILLE – Some members of the local LGBTQ community have different opinions on Justin Trudeau’s plan to formally apologize to Canadians who were persecuted for being gay.
On November 28, the Government will offer a formal apology to LGBTQ2 Canadians in the House – for the persecution & injustices they have suffered, and to advance together on the path to equality & inclusion.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 19, 2017
Eric Hargreaves, a member of Pride Belleville committee and a program facilitator of the SAY OutLoud youth group said he supports this idea.
“Whenever an agency, in this particular case the federal government, is speaking on behalf of all Canadians to make an apology that they have done damage and cause harm, is really a powerful statement,” he said, “I think it’s really going to be impactful.”
Hargreaves also recalled the experience of being gay in Ottawa in the 60s and 70s.
“I remember two of my friends in the community, who worked at a low-level government jobs, were interrogated by the RCMP because they had a gay club in Hull just across the river,” Hargreaves said. “The RCMP even had a video of them there. It wasn’t a safe place as we thought it was. It was a horrible experience.”
TJ Devries, a 21-year-old transgender, asks people to have an open mind and be respectful when it comes to members of LGBTQ communities. Photo credit: TJ Devries.
TJ Devries is transgender. He holds a different view.
“A lot of what Justin Trudeau does and does is just f0r the media and not put forth for the actual politics,” he said. “I would hope he would change things but it’s not very helpful.”
Devries has previously encountered issues at work.
“I was getting misgendered by co-workers and stuff,” he said. “I had very openly transphobic and homophobic co-workers.”
The apology will be made on Nov. 28 in the House of Commons in Ottawa.
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