Canada celebrates Pink Shirt Day and its Anti-bullying message

Last Wednesday, Pink Shirt Day was celebrated across Canada. The main aim of the program is to raise awareness of and eliminate bullying in schools and throughout society. Focusing on events within school boards, the program in British Columbia has been endorsed by provincial and municipal governments. Pink t-shirts are available for sale and there is a series of websites and social media pages dedicated to the event. Support for Pink Shirt Day is widespread as it delivers a strong message that students, along with the rest of us, should stand up to bullies and be free to express themselves without fear of reprisal or judgment. This is, after all, a basic human right as guaranteed in our constitution.

As part of preparations for Pink Shirt Day, a YouTube video was compiled by teachers from several of Vancouver’s school boards. Students were filmed performing a choreographed dance routine to Lady Gaga’s hit song “Born This Way”. Simply emphasizing that we are all individuals and deserve respect regardless of how different we may be, the song is an inspiration to millions. It has become an anthem and a powerful expression of the artist’s individuality and commitment to being a positive role model. Lady Gaga, having been bullied and tormented herself for being different, is living proof that believing in oneself in the face of opposition enables us to rise above the hatred of others. I can think of no better lesson that can we offer to youth who face challenges of growing up in a society that often emphasizes differences without embracing them.

An extremely vocal group of parents in Burnaby (a part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District) wrote a letter to the Premier of BC asking that the video not be made and posted online. They cited a long list of reasons, including Lady Gaga’s explicit videos, her “sex sells worldview”, and how the project negatively impacts “free exchange of ideas and obesity resulting from excessive screen time”. Their letter asked for censuring of school personnel involved in the project. These are the same people who, last year, tried to halt the school district’s creation of an antihomophobia policy.

Seriously, these parents have got to get their heads out from between their thighs. I believe that many parents are not giving the credit that their children deserve. They are being bombarded by advertisements and media from all sides and are growing up in a sensory rich world. Luckily, human minds start out accepting the different people around them and discrimination is a learned behaviour. If these particular parents would take a moment and see the simple lesson that translates from all of this; teaching acceptance of all people, no matter who they are or where they come from. Lady Gaga’s videos are obviously too artistic and interesting for these parents to grasp. I suggest they ask their children what they see in the videos.

Our constantly changing society is in dire need of projects to spread the message of acceptance and respect. Bullying in schools takes many forms, and it’s been proven that queer children are more likely to be targeted and to commit suicide as a result of these actions. It’s our responsibility to ensure that youth are aware of the difficulties they may face while growing up and that there is a community to support them. I can only imagine how differently my life would have been had there been programs like Pink Shirt Day and inclusive choreographed dance routines where I would have been encouraged to be myself. Perhaps, the pair of pink shorts that I often wore in high school, which I insisted were fuchsia, would have finally found a meaningful use.

Support Pink Shirt Day next February!

Finding a Face for Mr. Gay Canada

It's been a few weeks since I was selected as Mr. Gay Canada for 2012. It all happened very quickly and I've had to make some adjustments.

Last week, Xtra!, Vancouver's Gay and Lesbian news, published a story about Winter Pride. Along with this coverage, they threw in a picture of my in my swimsuit worn during the Mr. Gay Canada competition. I'm also wearing the MGC sash.

This isn’t the first time I’ve been in the newspaper. Ten years ago, I was volunteering as a research assistant on a sea turtle monitoring project in Coast Rica. It was six months of arduous all-night marathon beach patrols, early morning nest surveys, and near-total isolation. When crew came from the national newspaper to photograph us tagging nesting sea turtles, I remember thinking that the team of Latin-Americans who I worked with were getting all the limelight as they were the only ones being interviewed. Sure, I could hardly speak Spanish at the time, but I automatically assumed that reporters would be interested in a cute, hirsute Canadian who had come so far to live in a coastal town of 300 people, accessible only by boat and small airplane. Grudgingly, I brought a photographer along on a night patrol.

The first thing you learn about nesting sea turtles is that they are sensitive to light. Extremely so. If you approach with a flashlight, they will actually turn and run back into the sea. I have been trampled by a sprinting turtle. Aesop obviously never bothered tagging wild sea turtles. Turtle patrollers use special red filters on their headlamps that are less visible to reptiles. So now imagine this isolated beach. There are no lights anywhere. And with no moon, it’s dark. However, when you’re working in poor light, your pupils naturally dilate to let in more starlight. Your other senses are heightened; I came to be able to smell a turtle on the beach before seeing her. A rather strong combined odour of sea and egg.

It was dark on that night with the reporter. I located a nesting female and started to work with her. Tagging a 100 kilo turtle requires a certain amount of dexterity to avoid the swinging flippers and associated flying sand. It also requires the ability to read the tiny numbers etched into the metal identification tags used on the animals. Taking photos on the beach at night is not allowed without a permit, so as not to disturb the endangered animals. The photographer who came out on the beach that night had permission to snap some photos. You know how, when someone takes your picture with a flash, you see spots for a while? Imagine your eyes at their most sensitive and dilated as you’re working on a Costa Rican beach in the dead of night. When a big, professional strobe flashes right in your eyes, there is no way you’re going to be seeing much of anything, let alone little numbers on a shiny metal tag. Forget seeing even the turtle. I was rendered absolutely blind and utterly useless on that beach. I don’t know if we collected any usable data on that patrol, as I could only see spots and, every time I knelt down to get a closer look, another series of flashes would be set off in my face. The poor turtle must have been terrifically confused. And is now potentially blind.

Several days later, when our supply boat arrived, I was shocked to see that my picture had made it to the front page of the national newspaper. Oh, but that wasn’t the only surprise. Inside was a several-page story detailing the turtle project, with huge colour photographs of myself working with the nesting female. If you look closely at the pictures, you’ll see me squinting and feeling my way, surprisingly effectively, around the reptile in the sand.

This time around, there is no beach in the photograph in the newspaper. However, in a rather ironic twist, I am wearing a swimsuit. Along with a sash. And nothing else but my smile.

Now Accepting 2012 MGC Applications!

Do you have what it takes to be Canada's next Gay Ambassador, a champion of gay human rights and visibility?  Mr. Gay Canada 2012 is now accepting applicants to participate in the next Mr. Gay Canada competition.

The Mr Gay Canada competition’s purpose is to provide an opportunity by creating a positive image for young gay men to make a ‘difference’ and be accepted within their own communities. Through education and public performances, MGC’s goal is to help create positive, authentic and empowered role models that will be a champion for Gay Human Rights within his own community as well as, on a global stage. Through these public performances, outreach and education, MGC will raise awareness of issues pertinent to young gay men, such as safe sex awareness, bullying and self-acceptance.
The MGC competition will take place over an intense three days and includes various challenges including a photo challenge, sports challenge, fashion show/run way challenge, swim suit challenge, public speaking and a local outreach challenge where MGC is able to work with a local charity to give back to the community in hosting the competition.
A maximum of 12 delegates will be selected for this year’s competition. The aim is to have a delegate representing as many provinces and territories as possible. Delegates can represent their place of birth (must provide birth certificate) or place of residence (must provide valid ID). Delegates will be responsible for their own transportation to and from Whistler for the competition. Delegates must be in Whistler by 3pm on February 9/2011. All housing (shared accommodations) will be provided and there will be some meals included. Delegates will be responsible for other meals and any other personal expenses. The competition will take place from Thursday February 9th to Saturday February 11th, which coincides with the annual WinterPRIDE festival. 

The Winner of the 2012 Mr. Gay Canada competition will then be flown to South Africa to represent Canada in the Mr. Gay World Grand Finale!  Click below to apply:

Open publication - Free publishing - More gay beauty

Being Gay is NOT a Choice

Read a interesting article in the Province the other day. Really shows how some people still think being gay is a choice.

What causes homosexuality? There has been much debate about what causes homosexuality. Is there a gay gene? Is homosexuality caused by environmental factors, such as upbringing, child molestation, an absent mother or affectionate father? Or is it something we’re born with, an inherited trait, like skin or hair color?

Although there have been few studies on the cause of homosexuality, the debate seems to be divided, with scientists in one corner and religious fundamentalists in another.

International Day Against Homophobia

The International Day Against Homophobia, held on May 17 every year, is a rallying event offering an opportunity for people to get together and reach out to one another. Foundation Emergency promotes, mainly on a pan-Canadian level, the International Day Against Homophobia and encourages organizations and individuals to highlight this event in their environment.


An International Day Against Homophobia belongs to no one individual. It’s about all people hoping for a prejudice-free world that can provide a place at the table for everyone regardless of their sexual orientation.

Homophobic Hate Groups on Facebook

There's been a number of homophobic hate groups started on Facebook. There's new ones starting up everyday and we need to report them and get them closed down.

Hate Groups

Uganda

Uganda's parliament adjourned Friday without acting on a bill that would have made engaging in homosexual acts a capital offense, leaving the future of the widely condemned bill uncertain.

Though parliament's mandate ends May 18, next week has been reserved for the swearing in of new members. Friday's lack of action on the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill means that the issue will not be discussed this session.

The bill has been condemned internationally since October 2009, when it was introduced.

In addition to proposing the death penalty for certain gay acts, it proposed requiring anyone aware of violations of the bill to report them to the authorities within a day or face criminal sanction, said Human Rights Watch.

The bill would have criminalized "promotion of homosexuality," the organization said in a written statement. That would have jeopardized the work of promoters of human rights, it said.

www.allout.org