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BC’s Rep for Children and Youth Supports LBGT Youth

BC’s rep for children and youth releases video supporting LGBT youth.

Prior to 1967, it was a crime to be yourself.
 
OK, maybe I’m being slightly too ambiguous – but this was a common reality for homosexual people living in Canada. Although homosexuality is no longer dealt with in the Criminal Code of Canada, there are many people who face homophobic discrimination every single day for just being themselves.
 
It is unfortunate that some controversial topics, such as homosexuality, are only given the media’s spotlight under adverse circumstances. Today, I am happy to be able to share some good news.
 
Last week, BC’s representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, took action towards supporting the LGBT community. After releasing a video in support of the It Gets Better project, Turpel-Lafond stated that it was, “meant to spark a dialogue that can help give strength and encouragement to LGBT youth.”
 
She went on to explain that “bullying and homophobia can deeply hurt those who need our support, and can destroy families, communities and lives. We need to help them find their voice and to reach out to those who respect and support them.”
 
I am proud of our province for taking action towards such a worthy cause. If our generation can simply follow in Turpel-Lafond’s footsteps, perhaps we can start referring to homophobia as a thing of the past.
 
Racism in Canada, for example, is an issue that I am happy to say is relatively dated. As a visible minority, an Ismaili Muslim, I feel so fortunate to truly feel equal to those around me. If I were travel back into time and tell people of my culture that we would be seen as equals one day, they probably would not believe me.
 
I’m not saying racism doesn’t exist in Canada – it does, and in some places it is much more prevalent than in other.  But it is far more scarce today than before, and it is in this way that I believe homophobia is the new racism. Today its impacts are a harsh reality for many; if we continue to take action against it, it is my belief that homophobia can become more of a memory than anything else.
 
Call me a shameless idealist, but I truly believe that if we were to time travel into Canada’s future, homosexuality will be just as accepted as cultural diversity. In order to make that a reality one day, we must stand up for equality, practice what we preach, and most importantly, be the change.

Visit www.rcybc.ca to view videos and for more info.